POWERED UP: NineStar installs new EV super charger in McCordsville

By Julie Young

On July 8, NineStar Connect plugged into the future with the installation of a new, Level 3 “DC Fast Charger” in one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Located at Leo’s Market and Eatery at 8956 N. 600 W in McCordsville, it is one of the fastest electric vehicle (EV) chargers available for public use and is the fastest in Hancock County. 

Dave Spencer, director of marketing for NineStar Connect said as EVs continue to take hold and become popular with consumers, it is important to have the infrastructure in place to support them. After earmarking the funds for the purchase and installation of the charger this year, the utility cooperative began scouting potential locations throughout their service area. 

“This is a great location,” Spencer said. “It’s close to Daniel’s Vineyard and Geist and is just a few miles north of the Mt. Comfort exist at I-70 so it’s really convenient.” 

So is the charger itself. The ChargePoint Express (CPE) 250 is engineered to charge both current and next generation electric cars, buses, and trucks quickly. Each station is equipped with two power modules that deliver up to 62.5 kW at a maximum of 250 RPH (miles of range per hour.) The station supports both legacy and future battery packs from 200V to 1,000V and features large format LED screens, easy-to-use swing arms, as well as area lighting for safe charging at night. 

Customers looking to charge their vehicles can insert their credit card at the station and plug in their car, paying for the electricity the same way they would in their home – by the kilowatt hour. The rate is .45 cents a Kilowatt used. It typically takes about 30 minutes to fully charge a vehicle using the CPE250, time that customers can pass by making a pit stop or enjoying a delicious meal at Leo’s Eatery. 

“That’s one of the reasons why we chose to partner with Leo’s,” said Tommy Nance, vice-president of operations at NineStar Connect. “In addition to being a local business, they are not a typical gas station and convenience store. They offer quality fare to their customers and if they can enjoy some food while charging their EV quickly and conveniently, that’s even better.” 

The new NineStar super charger is part of the US Department of Energy EV charging station database which allows drivers to identify nearby charging options based on their needs so that they can plan their road trips (and routes) accordingly. It also gives Leo’s some addition foot traffic from those who find themselves with 30 minutes to kill while their car is being charged. 

Nance said that NineStar has plans to install additional super chargers in Hancock County including two at the new McCord Square at Broadway and Mt. Comfort Road, however no other locations have been identified. He said that the initial charger has been outfitted with metering equipment to collect and study usage data in order to measure its effectiveness and to find out what kind of impact it is making on the system. 

“We don’t have any data yet, because it has only been installed for a few weeks, but we want to be prepared for the future of EVs while keeping costs in mind as well,” Nance said. “As a utility we need to do our due diligence and make sure that we are prepared and staying ahead of the curve.” 

NineStar’s new Level 3 EV super charger 

Location: Leo’s Market and Eatery 8956 N 600 W, McCordsville, IN

Specifications: 

• 2 Power Modules that deliver 62.5 kW to vehicles at a maximum rate of 250 RPH.
• Supports legacy and future battery packs from 200V to 1,000V. 
• High efficiency power conversion (more than 96 percent efficiency) reduces electricity costs and wasted energy.

Features: 

• Large format 20” LED displays station status from a distance. 
• 10” LCD touchscreen for driver interaction. 
• Easy-to-operate swing arms.
• Area lighting for safe charging at night. 
• Universal connection compatibility for any EV with fast charging capability.