Middle Tennessee Electric Accelerates EV Infrastructure with New Fast Chargers  

In response to the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in Tennessee, Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) has announced the installation of four new fast chargers at its Central Office, located at 555 New Salem Highway in Murfreesboro, just off Interstate 24, exit 80. These installations are part of the Fast Charge TN Network, a collaborative effort between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), local TVA power companies and Seven States Power Corporation. 

The Fast Charge TN Network is part of a larger initiative to create a regional charging infrastructure to support EV travel along major highways. By installing fast chargers along interstates, this network supports the broader National Electric Highway Coalition's mission to facilitate long-distance EV travel throughout the United States. 

“This is the second of three planned DC Fast Charger installations in MTE’s service area,” said Brandon Wagoner, MTE’s manager of strategy execution and analytics. “The first was installed in March of 2024 at our Lebanon office on Maddox-Simpson Parkway, just off I-40, and the third installation located at our Franklin office on Edward Curd Lane, just off I-65, is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.” 

Each fast charger at the Murfreesboro location features dual connectors, offering both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging options to support a wide range of EVs, including Tesla models. While three chargers have NACS on the second connector, the fourth one has a CHArge de Move (CHAdeMO) connector to meet grant requirements, as CHAdeMO is used for DC fast charging on the Nissan Leaf. With many manufacturers moving to NACS connectors by 2025, these chargers are designed to be backward compatible, ensuring they’re equipped for this industry shift. 

The chargers, manufactured by Electric Era, bring cutting-edge technology to Middle Tennessee. Founded by engineers with experience at SpaceX, Electric Era’s charging station uses proprietary fault recovery algorithms to ensure maximum uptime and reliability, along with a remote monitoring software Command Console that gives MTE real-time insights about performance similar to what is used for SpaceX Starlink. The station uses Electric Era’s patented software energy control system and 250-kW batteries to support grid stability, giving it a total of 500 kW battery capacity. These batteries allow MTE to manage grid stress during peak events and even provide grid support during emergencies, as seen in January during Winter Storm Heather. 

“As more Tennesseans switch to electric vehicles, it’s essential to provide infrastructure that is not only ready for the demands of today but adaptable for the future,” Wagoner added. “By investing in high-capacity chargers with reliable self-healing technology and grid-supportive battery systems, we’re laying the groundwork for sustainable EV travel across the state.” 

The Fast Charge TN Network and National Electric Highway Coalition efforts represent a significant step forward in making clean transportation options accessible for more drivers. This installation at MTE's Murfreesboro office exemplifies MTE’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, supporting the future of electric travel in Tennessee and beyond.