What is the UL?
UL, or Underwriters Laboratories, is a global safety certification company. While its headquarters are in Illinois, it has 46 offices around the world. Established in 1894 as the Underwriters’ Electrical Bureau, it has been known as UL for many years and has been a part of safety analysis for many of this century’s new technologies. Today, UL has expanded well past electricity and certifies safety for food quality, water quality, performance testing, and environmental sustainability.
The UL symbol lets consumers know a product is safe and has been tested to the rigorous standards of OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Administration). Ever since their “Tin Clad Fire Doors” of 1903, UL has stood for strength and safety. According to LaMarcoSystems, UL certification is important because it “demonstrates manufacturers’ and service providers’ competency.”
The New Generation of Chargers
At Blink, we’re honored that UL has certified our Next Generation Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers.
The Blink IQ 200 is our newest 80 amp charger, capable of delivering more than 65 miles of charge per hour for cars capable of receiving 19.2 kW- three times the output of the current generation. New features include improved network connectivity, intuitive touch screen, and sleek design. The powerful new charger will reduce charging time by two-thirds.
“UL’s approval of our next generation AC charging stations is a very important milestone for us” said Blink Charging’s Founder & Executive Chairman, Michael D. Farkas. “The massively robust functionality of our new chargers is focused on speed, reliability, and safety, which means that instead of spending three hours at a charger, drivers will be able to get on the road in just one hour. If they only need to top off their car, they can get the same amount of energy in 10 minutes, rather than 30 minutes that they would need now.”
The Next Generation Blink charging stations will roll-out as part of the Company’s assertive network expansion throughout the U.S., now with over 14,000 units deployed nationwide.
Market forecasters predict continued rapid growth for electric vehicles—from smaller, more economical versions to SUVs to luxury cars, and an entirely new demographic—E- trucks and luxury E-trucks. Electric vehicle charger manufacturers will have to stay ahead of the game and discover newer, faster ways for larger vehicles that need more power to charge fast, and perform jobs EVs never did before.