WASHINGTON, April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), a leader in the global retail real estate industry, and NRG eVgo (ee-vee-go), a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. will host an amped-up Earth Day Electric Car Caravan celebrating the unveiling of three new electric car fast-charging Freedom Station® sites at St. Charles Towne Center, Bowie Town Center and Queenstown Premium Outlets in Maryland.
The celebratory caravan will get underway on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22. Local electric vehicle (EV) owners will kick off the festivities at St. Charles Towne Center at 10 a.m. in Waldorf, MD, where local officials will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the launch of the mall's new Freedom Station located in the parking area between Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods. St. Charles Towne Center is located at 11110 Mall Circle.
Next, the EV caravan will charge forward to Prince George's County at Bowie Town Center, 15606 Emerald Way in Bowie, with an 11:15 a.m. stop for a ribbon cutting with city officials at the Freedom Station located in the Barnes and Noble parking lot.
The day's festivities will culminate at Queenstown Premium Outlets in Queenstown, MD located at 441 Outlet Center Drive with a Freedom Station grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:30 p.m. in the parking area along Route 50 behind The Loft. Local county and business leaders will be on-hand to participate in the celebration.
The Freedom Station sites feature a 480-volt direct current (DC) fast charger that enable EV drivers, who are shopping and visiting, to recharge their vehicles in 30 minutes or less, as well as a traditional 240-volt alternating current (AC) charger that can charge all electric vehicles.
These efforts are part of a growing network of Freedom Station sites in the greater Washington D.C., metropolitan area with 10 now open and more coming soon. With sites under development across the Mid-Atlantic, the eVgo ecosystem will enable electric car owners in the nation's capital to drive with confidence around the entire region.
"The NRG eVgo Freedom Station sites at St. Charles Towne Center, Bowie Town Center and Queenstown Premium Outlets are important points in our growing comprehensive charging network for electric car drivers not only inside the Beltway, but also all around the region," said Michael Krauthamer, Mid-Atlantic Director for NRG eVgo. "Partnering with Simon Property Group offers EV drivers a valuable waypoint along the heavily travelled Route 50 corridor connecting Washington and Annapolis as well as the opportunity to shop and charge at a premier retail destination in Southern Maryland. As our Mid-Atlantic ecosystem grows, residents will find that our Freedom Station sites will make it even easier to drive electric all around the D.C. area."
"Simon Property Group aspires to lead the industry in the energy management and sustainability practices in all of its mall operations," said Ron Hanson, Simon Property Group's Vice President of Operational Efficiency. "Around the nation, Simon continues to install EV charging stations as part of a consumer initiative underscoring our commitment to providing sustainable amenities for our customers."
NRG eVgo is building a network of more than 40 Freedom Station charging sites as well as the infrastructure to support Level 2 charging at multi-family residences and workplaces throughout the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The Freedom Station network is just one part of the NRG eVgo ecosystem designed for EV drivers to get the most out of their vehicles by providing simple charging solutions at home, at apartments, at work, at the airport and on the go.
About Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is a S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry. We currently own or have an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe comprising approximately 243 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S. For more information, visit simon.com.
About NRG eVgo
The NRG eVgo(SM) network gives electric vehicle (EV) owners new freedom and range confidence via home and workplace charging docks, plus a network of fast charging stations conveniently located at retailers along major transportation corridors within eVgo cities. Service plans offered by eVgo can provide EV owners a home or workplace charger and use of eVgo's Freedom Station® sites and other public charging stations. eVgo is a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 company at the forefront of changing how people think about, buy and use energy. Through eVgo, NRG will provide access to hundreds of public charging sites across California, Texas and the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. To find out more, or to join the eVgo network, visit www.nrgevgo.com. Connect with eVgo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgevgo.
SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc.