Electrify America Expands EV Charging Infrastructure With New Santa Barbara Fast-Charging Hub

Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group of America, has expanded public charging access by launching a new large-format EV charging station in downtown Santa Barbara, located in California, United States. Announced on June 17, the new facility is designed to support the growing number of electric vehicle users by providing high-capacity charging infrastructure in a key urban location. The project reflects the company’s continued efforts to strengthen fast-charging availability while supporting the broader transition toward zero-emission transportation.

The newly opened station features 20 Hyper-Fast charging units, each capable of delivering charging speeds of up to 350 kW. At peak performance, the chargers can provide up to 20 miles of driving range per minute, helping reduce charging times for EV drivers. The installation significantly expands charging capacity in Santa Barbara’s downtown area and is intended to improve convenience and accessibility for both local users and travelers requiring rapid charging services.

A major highlight of the project is the integration of a 1.9 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), representing Electrify America’s largest public BESS deployment to date. The energy storage system is designed to collect and store electricity from the grid during periods of lower demand and when solar energy generation is abundant. During peak charging demand, the stored energy can be discharged to help support station operations and enhance energy management efficiency.

Rob Barrosa, President and CEO of Electrify America, emphasized the significance of the development, stating, “This large-format station showcases the next evolution of charging infrastructure, combining high-power charging with integrated battery energy storage to deliver reliable capacity at scale.” The combination of ultra-fast charging technology and energy storage is expected to improve operational resilience while supporting increased utilization as EV adoption continues to rise.

At launch, all 20 charging points are equipped with CCS connectors. Electrify America has confirmed that a portion of these chargers will be converted to NACS connectors later in the summer as part of the company’s ongoing NACS pilot program. This move is aimed at increasing compatibility with a broader range of electric vehicles and supporting evolving industry charging standards.

Electrify America remains one of the largest DC fast-charging network operators in the United States and has committed more than USD 2 billion toward the development of Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure. The Santa Barbara project highlights the company’s strategy of combining charging expansion with advanced energy management technologies to support future electric mobility requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the new Electrify America charging station in Santa Barbara unique?
The Santa Barbara facility combines high-power EV charging with large-scale battery energy storage in a single location. The station features 20 Hyper-Fast chargers capable of delivering up to 350 kW and includes a 1.9 MW battery energy storage system, the largest public deployment of its kind by Electrify America. This combination helps improve charging reliability, supports grid efficiency, and enables better energy management during periods of high charging demand while enhancing service availability for EV drivers.

Will the Santa Barbara charging station support NACS-compatible vehicles?
Yes, Electrify America plans to expand connector compatibility at the site. While all 20 chargers initially use CCS connectors, the company has announced that some chargers will be converted to NACS connectors later in the summer under its ongoing NACS pilot program. This upgrade will allow a wider range of electric vehicles to access the station, helping Electrify America align with evolving industry charging standards and improve convenience for EV owners across different vehicle brands.