Evergo, Jamaica’s largest EV charging network, successfully hosted their annual EV Link Up, on Saturday, September 6, at Richmond, Llandovery, St Ann.

“As Jamaicans would say, Mi glad bag buss. This event shows that Jamaicans are not only thinking about their environment, they’re also taking part in this automotive transition to electric. What is most promising about all this is the dealers are stepping up,” Wayne McKenzie, president & CEO, Evergo told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly
Auto magazine.

Created the celebrate World Electric Vehicle Day, the even has seen an annual increase in participation from new and used car dealers, and the public on a whole.

The venue not only featured the latest in EV vehicles from major brands on display, but the support systems around them as well. Patrons, including EV enthusiasts, crammed into the location to browse the latest offerings, be educated on new EV technologies and companies, share their experiences with like minds, and just have a fun day with the music and food on hand.

“Where this event is concerned is the camaraderie and the family that we’re building amongst EV users,” he said.

According to McKenzie, Evergo has seen an uptick in the use of its charging network, despite the infrastructure challenges and most recently Hurricane Beryl. He regards the storm as a positive, showing the robustness of network, the better range of modern EVs, and helping Jamaica’s electricity supplier understand the shortcomings around the island.

“I wouldn’t say that Beryl hampered the driving of EVs, because most of the people I know, it didn’t prevent us from driving. Yes, some of the charging stations, particularly those on the southern parishes were not working, but the ranges on the EVs were good enough to go to Negril and come back to Kingston and get a charge. Most, if not all the Evergo chargers were up in Kingston, St Catherine, and some in St Ann,” he said.

Evergo users can look forward to the higher charging speeds promised with the introduction of the Blueberry chargers last year as they work with Jamaica Public Service to install the groundwork to implement the upgrades to 150kWh.

“When we first put down chargers they were basically vacant, not being used. I am now seeing cars lining up at charging stations to be used,” McKenzie shared.