LG Business Solutions USA opens electric vehicle charging station factory in Fort Worth

Global innovator LG Electronics has opened its first factory in the United States to assemble electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The new electric vehicle charger production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, will create new jobs and support the growth of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States.

To mark LG’s entry into the U.S. electric vehicle charger market, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and other officials cut the ribbon on the new facility, along with LG Electronics senior executives Alec Jang, president of LG Electronics Business Solutions; HK Suh, global head of LG’s electric vehicle charger business; and Nicolas Min, president of LG Business Solutions USA.

An important step in LG’s roadmap

HK Suh, head of LG Electronics’ electric vehicle charging business unit, explained the capabilities of the Level 2 charger the company demonstrated at the grand opening of its U.S. factory in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 12, 2024. (Brandon Wade/LG Electronics America, Inc.).

President Zhang said: “The electric vehicle charger business is LG’s future growth engine and supports the company’s transformation into a smart solutions company.” This marks the beginning of the production of electric vehicle chargers for the North American market. “LG will leverage the reliability and uncompromising quality of its chargers, maintenance services and vertical sales capabilities with the goal of becoming the global leader in the electric vehicle charging business.”

Mayor Parker expressed his appreciation for the role LG plays in the Fort Worth community and emphasized the importance of the new facility. “This is a great day for Fort Worth,” she said, “that a global leader has chosen to establish an electric vehicle charger manufacturing base in the United States and create new jobs here. We are proud to know that LG will Fort Worth is home to some of the most advanced electric vehicle charging stations deployed around the country.

Electric vehicle charging is worth investing in

LG workers assemble Level 2 electric vehicle chargers at the company’s first U.S. electric vehicle charger factory in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 12, 2024. (Brandon Wade/LG Electronics America, Inc.).

The plant covers an area of ​​100,000 square feet and has an annual production capacity of 12,000 vehicles. The new facility, powered by 100 percent green energy, builds on LG’s long history as a corporate citizen of Fort Worth, where its million-square-foot consumer electronics and appliance distribution center has been located in the city for three decades.

As Mayor Parker puts it, LG Electronics’ latest investment in Fort Worth will create a wealth of technology jobs in “…the fastest-growing city in North Texas.” Additionally, it reinforces LG’s commitment to the region as a hub for future innovation and manufacturing.

“[This] “This marks the next step in LG’s roadmap to support U.S. electrification by making electric vehicle charging infrastructure smarter, more convenient, and more profitable for operators,” said Michael Kosla, senior vice president of LG Business Solutions America. important step.

Kosla said the Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle chargers produced at the plant “will create new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and other public spaces to support the electrification of the United States through independently owned and operated charging stations.” Revenue streams, additional marketing and revenue opportunities, and differentiation from competing businesses.

Provide the ultimate experience

Khosla further elaborated that the United States needs hundreds of thousands of new Level 2 and Level 3 chargers to support the growing number of electric vehicles on the road. LG subsequently developed owner-operated electric vehicle charging stations, giving hotels, restaurants, venues, transportation hubs, municipal buildings and other locations the power to set their own rates, retain the profits generated and ensure sufficient capacity to meet local needs. need.

At the press conference, LG also expressed its gratitude to its clean energy future partners. These include EV Connect, Swtch, Zone Energie, ABM Industries and EVRange. The partnership is part of the company’s broader electrification strategy that enables customers to move to more sustainable energy use, saving money and improving environmental outcomes in the process.

Assembly plan

An LG CLOi robot welcomes attendees at the electric vehicle charging station factory. Photo courtesy of Amala Reddy.

The first products to be assembled in Fort Worth starting in January will be Level 2 AC chargers with load management solutions and variable current settings to achieve 11kW of output power via a standard SAE J1772 connector. The Level 2 AC charger is designed for simple wall mounting and comes with an optional stand so it can be placed anywhere.

The EVW011SK-SN model has passed UL2594 (UL Solutions electric vehicle power supply equipment standard) and Energy Star (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s trustworthy energy and performance standard) certification.

Starting in spring, the factory will assemble LG’s first Level 3 DC charger, a vertical model with a connected power bank that provides up to 175kW of fast charging via CCS1 and NACS connectors. Level 3 models will feature large outdoor LCD touch screen displays that offer a variety of features for different owners and use cases, including generating additional revenue through advertising sales. In addition, 350kW ultra-fast chargers are also on the roadmap for later in 2024.