b'38 PDXPASSENGER TRANSPORTPDX Adds Fast Charger System to QuicklyPower up Electric Rental Vehicles BY CHRIS JONESFACTS&FIGURESIn its ideal state, electricity travelscharges electric vehicles in just a couple Project: Fast Charging Equipment in Rental Car at the speed of light. But actually,hoursup to eight times faster than a Turn Center moving high voltage power fromcommon Level 2 charger. Location: Portland Intl Airport, in OR one point to another is rarely a quick or simpleThat, in turn, reduces the time it takes Cost: $3.3 million processespecially at a bustling airport. for rental car companies to place arriving Funding: Rental car consortium paid for project, withPortland International Airport (PDX)customers into those vehicles, particularly reimbursement from airport through customer facilityunderstands that challenge firsthand.during peak periods when wasted time charges ($6/day on all rental contracts of 10 days or less) Demand for electrical connectivity isleads to lost revenue.Completed: Dec. 2024 skyrocketing at the Oregon gateway asThe best rental General Contractor: ENGIE Services U.S. Inc.* rental car companies add more electricexperience is one that Project Management: Conrac Solutions vehicles to their inventories. And while thejust worksyou get Charging Equipment Provider: ChargePoint airports consolidated rental car centerthe car you want, enjoy is relatively new, it previously lacked theyour trip and return Engineering: Coffman Engineers means to quickly recharge electric vehicles Electrical Contractor: Tice Electric after customers returned them. it without a hassle, says Jeremiah Hartley, Car Rental Brands: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar,That all changed in December when PDXairport rental carJEREMIAH HARTLEYEnterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, SIXT, Thrifty, Zipcar unveiled one of the nations first common- manager for the Port 2024 Airport Passengers: 17.5 millionuse, direct current fast charger systemof Portland. The more that process fades Owner/Operator: Port of Portland inside an airport rental car quick turnaroundinto the background, the better. Of Note: 1st U.S. airport to install fast chargingarea. The $3.3 million improvement stations for electric rental vehiclesJuly | August 2025AirportImprovement.com'