Virginia Transformer Corp. launches EV charger module

Roanoke-based power transformer manufacturer Virginia Transformer Corp. has entered the electric vehicle market by launching a manufacturing division to create components for commercial electric vehicle power chargers, with plans to expand the initiative, the company announced Monday.

Commercial customers can build self-contained, scalable power modules from VTC’s new product, E2V. The unit includes multiple elements needed for charging stations, including transformers, switchgears, distribution circuits and breakers.

“Instead of the developer needing to source all of the items separately and then trying to piece them together onsite, we build it all together and ship it [and] a customer … can be up and running in a day instead of a month,” Virginia Transformer Director of Communications Kevin Lowery told Virginia Business.

The module will serve commercial clients who will charge fees for EV users to use their chargers, similar to a gas station model. Charging stations require transformers to provide power, connecting the station to the power grid, which is where the E2V comes in.

Each E2V unit weighs approximately 14,000 pounds and measures 8 feet by 9 feet by 14 feet.

“EV infrastructure’s biggest challenges are procurement, logistics, coordination and field integration. Virginia Transformer’s E2V solution addresses these issues by housing and connecting the main components (switchgear, transformer, breaker) into an integrated unit, allowing us to quickly deliver a plug-and-play, easy-to-install power solution supporting EV infrastructure’s rapid deployment across the U.S.,” VTC CEO Prabhat K. Jain said in a statement.

Right now, many EV owners charge their vehicles at home. Commercial chargers available at shopping centers and other locations vary in charging universality, speed and cost. The E2V unit is customizable, making it easier for commercial operators to adapt it to their needs, Lowery emphasized.

The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Joe Biden signed in November 2021 includes almost $5 billion for states to build out electric vehicle charging networks. Virginia will receive $106 million of that funding over five years, starting with $15.7 million in fiscal year 2022. Federal officials generally plan to have EV chargers available at least every 50 miles along interstates and major highways. The E2V module is aimed at the companies building these new charging stations across the nation, Lowery said.

Virginia Transformer Corp. expects to create 30 jobs at its Troutville facility as it shifts its production to focus on manufacturing end products. The company will build two complete production lines in Troutville and anticipates beginning initial production on them in the fall.

“As the largest U.S.-owned power transformer manufacturer in North America, Virginia Transformer has a reputation for designing and building innovative solutions for flexible deployment,” Jain said in a statement. “With 50 years of experience and the industry’s shortest lead time, the EV market is a natural fit for us.”

With 2,000 employees, Virginia Transformer Corp. provides custom-engineered power transformers for markets including data centers, utilities and bitcoin/cryptocurrency farms.