Kampgrounds of America (KOA) will launch a program to implement Level 2 EV chargers by January at select campground locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Owners within KOA’s 520 campgrounds can purchase KOA-branded electric vehicle (EV) chargers for their property. The Level 2 EV charging stations will be produced in partnership with Jamestown Advanced Products.
According to KOA’s latest research, 20% of campers have an EV in their household, compared with 12% of non-campers. The national EV ownership average is 7%.
Each unit will be able to charge one electric vehicle while also providing amperage for RVs through an available outlet. The Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt electric supply and can charge the vehicle up to 10 times faster than a Level 1 (120-volt) charger.
KOA President and CEO Toby O’Rourke said the company is seeking innovative ways to be more environmentally friendly and reduce KOA’s carbon footprint.
“This amenity is a first-of-its-kind for a campground network, and we could not be more excited to offer EV chargers as an amenity to campground owners and guests alike,” O’Rourke said. “It is an important step in promoting sustainability in the outdoor industry and making it easy for electric vehicle owners to enjoy their favorite activities such as camping, road tripping and RVing.”
Jamestown Director Josh Lodestro said his company is excited to fully integrate RV and EV power outlets for campgrounds.
“Our EV chargers will be fast and reliable,” Lodestro said, “solving for the common problem of finding enough chargers on the road when you leave major urban areas. Best of all, the camper will never need to leave their campsite to charge.”
Each EV charging station will allow for added 50-, 30-, or 20-amp plugins to make on-site installation a one-stop solution. No prior EV charging knowledge is required for installation. Each unit arrives pre-wired and installs in a similar fashion to standard RV power outlets. Each unit also will include universal access charging plug and 25 feet of cable. Registered campers will receive priority access to the charging stations.
