- A California startup wants to boost America’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure with a plug-and-play solution.
- The ElectricFish 400squared can be installed in as little as a few hours instead of months.
- This is because it does not require expensive network upgrades, and the secret lies inside the box.
America’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure is growing nicely, but there’s still a lot to do if worrying about electric vehicle charging becomes a thing of the past. The United States has Over 14,000 DC fast charging stations With more than 67,000 individual ports, but one startup believes it can speed up installations by removing one of the major bottlenecks: network upgrades.
For a 300-kilowatt charger to work as intended, very expensive grid upgrades are often needed, which can also take months – if not years – to complete. California-based ElectricFish says “no thanks” with its latest 400-megapixel DC fast charger, unveiled this week in… Consumer Electronics Show 2026 In Las Vegas.
Photo by: Electricfish
The kiosks are a comprehensive solution that does not require a separate cabinet for power distribution, as is the case with most traditional kiosks. The secret? Batteries.
The charger has 400 kWh of energy stored in the batteries, and the total power output is estimated at 400 kW – 200 kW per port if two EVs are connected at the same time. Thanks to the huge battery, which can be charged and discharged intelligently, the minimum network connection requirements for the huge charging cabinet are more than reasonable. The battery can be charged when the kiosks are free, and the power can then be transferred to electric vehicles that need to be recharged.
The ElectricFish 400squared can run power from a 120 or 240 volt split phase connection that can provide at least 55 amps. There’s also a 208-volt three-phase option that needs 83 amps, while the higher-spec model can accommodate three-phase 480 volts and 115 amps.
Photo by: Electricfish
The startup claims that its solution has a 99% uptime, and that in some cases, installation can be done in less than two hours. This is the amount of time needed before the switch is turned on HyundaiCalifornia proving ground.
ElectricFish says its compact fast charger is best suited to traditional gas stations, malls and fleet operators, but the 400squared can also be quickly deployed in emergency situations where authorities may need to power up their electric vehicles without having to search for an outside station.
It’s an interesting solution, and it’s worth noting that it’s not the only solution that promises similar benefits. XCharge works on A 44-stall EV charging center in Brooklyn Uses battery-powered GridLink chargers. Seattle’s Electric Era also builds battery-powered DC fast chargers used by companies like Costco.
