Electric vehicle adoption in the United States has shown remarkable growth despite some recent softening in the market. As of the end of last year, there were 3.3 million EVs on the road, a significant increase from 2 million in 2022 and 1.3 million in 2021, according to data from Edmunds. Additionally, over half a million all-electric vehicles were sold to U.S. customers in the first five months of this year.

Unlock the Safety of Electric Vehicle Charging

Charging Infrastructure on the Rise

This year, the Pew Research Center reported that there were over 61,000 publicly accessible Level 2 or DC electric vehicle charging stations in the U.S. as of February 2024. This is more than double the 29,000 public stations that were in operation at the end of 2020. To put this into perspective, there are currently about 145,000 gasoline fueling stations across the country. The growing use of electric vehicles has led to an increased demand for publicly accessible charging ports. EV drivers often find themselves waiting at these facilities for their batteries to recharge. At a Level 2 charger, it can take an hour or more, while a DC fast charger takes around 30 minutes, depending on the vehicle type and battery level. These potentially long waits in the car are where EVject's breakaway charger connection comes in handy.

Breakaway Tech Makes for Quick Getaways

In a Deseret News interview, EVject founders Kreg and Amanda Peeler explained that their novel breakaway connector design allows a driver to start their vehicle and drive away from a dangerous situation even while still connected to a charging station. Amanda Peeler shared her own frightening experience at an isolated charging station when a group of strangers approached her vehicle. She was able to simply drive away. The Peelers have also recounted other incidents where stray wildlife, charger fires, or weather conditions forced drivers to make emergency exits while plugged into charging ports. Similar technology already exists at traditional gasoline fueling stations with breakaway mechanisms at both the nozzle and pump end. "Right now with EV station charging, things are where they were at 100 or more years ago with cars," Amanda Peeler said. "Today, gas pumps have two different breakaways to allow people to just drive away in an emergency. We just want to create that same option during charging."

Addressing Unique Challenges

The Peelers pointed out that the proliferation of EV charging stations has led to some being located in out-of-the-way places, behind buildings, or in remote areas. In addition to unexpected events like flash floods, wildlife encounters, or charging station issues, there are over a million criminal incidents at parking garages, parking lots, and gas stations each year. "This product fits in with other things that are happening with the adoption of safety standards for charging stations," Kreg Peeler said. "They are mandating lights and cameras and other safety features... and at some point, breakaway connectors may also be required."

Evolving EV Safety Standards

Amanda Peeler noted that safety requirements are evolving as electric vehicle adoption continues to expand. Just like the evolution of features required for combustion engined vehicles, the process is ongoing. "It's not that different than seatbelts in the '60s," she said. "Some carmakers started making them optional, and eventually, they became a requirement." EVject, which launched about a year ago and went into full production this spring, has raised about $4 million in backing. The company is working on licensing agreements with other accessory makers and auto manufacturers and expects the business model to eventually become an enterprise operation as EV makers adopt breakaway connectors as a standard feature on their vehicles. The Peelers believe that this shift may be imminent. "I think it's just a matter of time," Amanda Peeler said. "The manufacturers design EVs to protect the equipment, now we just need to protect the driver."