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started developing electric vehicle charging stations. Universal has con- tracts to install chargers at over 1,000 hotels in Texas, and the company has over 2,500 planned installations in general. While Doshi expected that growth in the industry would continue, he said it has far exceeded his expectations. “Based on where we are right now, our 10-year projections will be squeezed into three years,” Doshi said. The number of electric vehicles on the road in Texas had hit 191,690— 18,810 of which are in Collin County— as of May 2, which is up from 11,900 in 2016, according to the Department of Energy. That growth has only exac- erbated the need for more chargers in Texas—there were 2,472 charging sta- tions in the state as of December. “There’s a huge gap in the North Texas, West Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma areas,” Muns said. “It’s amazing when you look at the map, and there’s just this huge, vast wasteland with no battery chargers.” To help address the need, SK’s man- ufacturing plant is planned to pro- duce up to 10,000 fast electric vehicle chargers per year once it’s running at full capacity in July. Universal EV also o ered no-cost chargers to Texas busi- nesses through March to help build up the network. With initiatives such as the new tax credit o ered for those who pur- chase electric vehicles as well as the
vehicle industry, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And as the use of electric vehicles rises, several charging companies are expanding their footprints in Plano. That includes Plano-based Univer- sal EV, which is looking to expand its operation in North Texas. “There are a variety of di erent companies with an interest in coming to Plano,” Muns said. “The beauty of Plano’s business community is diver- sity in the types of businesses—we’re not just a one-trick pony. That vari- ety even makes it that much more exciting.” Rise of electric vehicles SK ocials said their move largely comes as a result of the massive growth in the use of electric vehicles and the need for electric vehicle char- gers in the area. Universal EV Chargers CEO Hemal Doshi said he caught onto that need ahead of time when he started driving an electric vehicle seven years ago. “If we ever went out of town, we would have to call ahead and only stay at locations that have chargers,” he said. “Based on my own driving expe- rience, I saw that this was an area of need.” That’s when Univer-
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create up to 183 jobs in the city, accord- ing to a release from the company. “I think the end user for the tech- nologies developed here is all over the world,” he said. “For Plano, I think the real benet is jobs, and it’s a vari- ety of di erent jobs. That really does enhance the attraction to come work and live in Plano at the same time.” Doosan Robotics—a relatively new branch of the South Korean company Doosan Group—opened its U.S. head- quarters on Legacy Drive last June. The company focuses on “cobots,” or collaborative robots. These robots are made to function alongside humans—whether that’s performing dangerous jobs in an industrial space or making an iced latte. “These types of robots are meant to help humanity, to do things where the task that humans are doing might be dangerous or dirty,” Doosan Robotics General Manager Alex Lee said. “Col- laborative robots are basically bringing automation to the consumer. It’s no longer only inside of a manufacturing plant. … I look at it as a major evolu- tion when it comes to automation.” And over the last several years, Plano has seen plenty of growth in the electric
sal, which previously only worked in solar technology,
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Public charging stations fall into one of two categories: Level 2 or Level 3. Level 2 charging stations will ll most electric vehicles in four-ve hours. A Level 3 fast charger will charge a vehicle in around 30 minutes. Level 2 EV charger stations Level 3 EV charger stations
“IN PLANO, WE’RE PROVIDING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THESE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR.” DOUG MCDONALD, PLANO DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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