Learn who we are and how we serve our community
Meet our leaders, trustees and team
Developing the next generation of talent
Covering the latest news and trends in the marketplaces industry
Check out wide-ranging resources that educate and inspire
Learn about the governmental initiatives we support
Connect with other professionals at a local, regional or national event
Find webinars from industry experts on the latest topics and trends
Grow your skills online, in a class or at an event with expert guidance
Access our Member Directory and connect with colleagues
Get recommended matches for new business partners
Find tools to support your education and professional development
Learn about how to join ICSC and the benefits of membership
Stay connected with ICSC and continue to receive membership benefits
On Monday at ICSC - Here, We Go. 2021, Blink Charging released an electric vehicle charging station designed for shopping centers and other locations where multiple vehicles will charge at once, such as offices and multifamily properties. What’s new with MQ 200 is its load management capability; it places two to 20 chargers on the same circuit and distributes the power among the cars actively charging, allowing properties to save on electricity and installation costs. “This local load management can follow an equal distribution or first-in-first-served distribution,” according to a post on Blink’s blog.
RELATED: EV charging stations are close to mainstream. Here’s what landlords need to know
The modular design, according to the company, is ideal for indoor and outdoor installations, whether a pedestal or mounted on a wall. The ports are compatible with all electric vehicles; Teslas require adapters. As do Blink’s other offerings, the MQ200 charging stations connect to Blink’s network via 4G or Wi-Fi, and they can communicate directly with utilities via smart-grid technology.
“Projections show that 3.5 million EVs are anticipated to be sold annually by 2030, bolstered by the rise in state mandates banning internal combustion engines,” according to a Blink spokesperson, who pointed out that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Joe Biden signed last month includes $7.5 billion to build out the U.S.’s EV network.
“Commercial real estate stands to play a significant role in the rollout of EV charging infrastructure to power this surge, as consumers are looking for places to charge that have amenities they can use during the charging time,” the spokesperson said. “Research shows that 89% of EV drivers make a retail purchase while charging, and 28% of EV drivers use public chargers weekly. Shopping destinations that provide EV charging stations encourage shoppers to stop at their locations, visit more frequently and spend more time in-store.”
Blink operates 30,000 electric vehicle charging ports in 18 countries.
By Amanda Metcalf
Editor in Chief, Commerce + Communities Today
ICSC champions small and emerging businesses in getting from business plan to brick-and-mortar.
Learn more