Kempower and Blink Charging are partnering to build out a network that captures one of electric vehicles' hidden strengths: the ability to charge while doing something else. The collaboration announced 92 new EV charging ports across 14 stations on the East Coast, with two sites already operating and a dozen more launching in 2026.
The two functioning stations are strategically located at Vasa Fitness in Colorado and Idaho Falls in Idaho—places where drivers naturally spend time away from their vehicles. This model matters because it signals a fundamental shift in how Americans think about refueling. Unlike gas stations, where the transaction is purely transactional and often involves exposure to fumes and toxic chemicals, EV chargers are being embedded into places where people work, shop, and exercise. The new stations will sit near convenience stores with high foot traffic, allowing drivers to accomplish multiple tasks in one stop.
Each station will feature Kempower Power Units and Satellite fast chargers, infrastructure designed to support the growing number of EV owners who depend on public charging networks. Jed Routh, Kempower's vice president of markets and products, emphasized this philosophy in describing the partnership: "Kempower technology is designed to deliver reliable, scalable, and user-friendly fast charging, and the new sites with Blink showcase how high-performance infrastructure can seamlessly support drivers' everyday routines."
The announcement arrives as public EV charging infrastructure continues its rapid expansion across the United States, supported by federal funding that has flowed to states to build fast-charging networks. Major retailers—Walmart, Kroger, Love's, Sheets, Wawa, and Shoprite—have begun installing chargers at their locations, recognizing that charging infrastructure solves a genuine convenience problem for EV owners. A driver can work out at a gym, check out books at a library, or complete a shopping trip while their vehicle charges, creating a seamless integration between mobility and daily life that gas vehicles cannot match.
For many EV owners, particularly those with single-family homes and personal chargers, the majority of recharging happens conveniently at home—a luxury that eliminates the need for gas station visits entirely. But for urban drivers, apartment dwellers, and those on long trips, public infrastructure is essential. The Kempower-Blink partnership addresses this need by prioritizing high-traffic locations where drivers are already spending time, making charging feel less like a separate errand and more like a natural part of routine.
The expansion also sidesteps an often-overlooked health dimension of EV adoption. Drivers filling up at traditional gas stations encounter fumes and chemical exposure—a minor but persistent risk that vanishes with electric vehicles. The safety profile improves as well: gas stations are locations where crimes occasionally occur, whereas charging at retail locations or fitness centers places drivers in populated, well-lit areas.
As these 92 new ports come online over the next year, they represent more than infrastructure; they embody a practical answer to one of the most common questions new EV owners ask: where will I charge? By placing chargers where people naturally congregate, Kempower and Blink are making electric vehicle ownership feel less like an alternative technology and more like an obvious choice for everyday drivers.