Within 30 minutes, NRG Energy demonstrated their first electric vehicle charging Freedom Station in New Jersey at Quaker Bridge Mall, successfully charging CEO David Crane's Nissan LEAF to full capacity.

The new station features three charging options: two fast chargers delivering approximately 80 miles of range in 30 minutes, and one standard charger requiring about three hours for a full charge.

NRG Energy currently operates around 400 Freedom Stations across 26 cities, focusing on urban and suburban locations rather than long-distance travel routes. This strategy aligns with usage data showing that less than 1% of all vehicles are used for cross-country travel.

The installation addresses several key environmental and economic concerns:

• New Jersey's ongoing challenge to meet ozone standards
• Reduction of carbon footprint for mall visitors
• Decreased dependence on foreign oil imports, which currently cost America approximately $1 billion every three days
• Enhanced local air quality through zero-emission vehicles

The charging station represents a significant step in sustainable infrastructure development, particularly considering that out of 300 million light-duty vehicles in the United States, 80 million are secondary vehicles used primarily for local transportation.

Mall officials anticipate the charging stations will benefit both environmentally conscious shoppers and local air quality while providing a convenient service for electric vehicle owners visiting the shopping center.

The Freedom Station at Quaker Bridge Mall marks the first installation in the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia areas, with more locations planned through ongoing collaboration between NRG and Simon mall properties.

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