OUC and Orange County open high‑speed EV charging hub at Convention Center

Orlando Utilities Commission and Orange County officials on Friday opened a high‑speed electric vehicle charging hub on the Orange County Convention Center campus in the I‑Drive tourism district, officials said.

The hub includes six 240‑kilowatt direct‑current fast‑charging ports that OUC says are compatible with a range of electric vehicles and can recharge a typical battery to about 80% in roughly 30 minutes. OUC Commission President Larry Mills said the station is intended to serve both residents and the convention center’s many visitors and attractions nearby.

“This hub provides convenient charging to residents and tourists alike,” OUC Commission President Larry Mills said. “The North Star, if you will, of our sustainability commitment is our pledge to achieve net‑zero CO2 emissions by the year 2050.”

Why it matters: officials framed the hub as part of broader county and utility efforts to lower tailpipe emissions and support Central Florida’s tourism economy. Orange County and OUC said the effort complements the convention center’s existing sustainability work, including waste‑diversion programs and a planned rooftop solar array.

OUC provided usage figures for its two hubs so far: since opening the Robinson Street downtown hub and a soft opening of the Convention Center site, OUC reported 5,897 unique customers and about 1,700,000 kilowatt‑hours dispensed. The utility characterized that energy as equivalent to roughly 5.5 million road miles of driving and said the cumulative usage has avoided an estimated 647 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

Officials described the Convention Center site as the utility’s second formal “recharge” mobility hub; OUC said it opened its first hub on Robinson Street about a year earlier. Mills said a third hub is in planning and will be located in the Parramore neighborhood (ZIP code 32805) and that the utility is targeting that site to increase access in low‑ and moderate‑income areas.

Funding and partnerships: Mills said the project was funded in part by a grant and named several project partners including Orange County Government, the Orange County Convention Center, Power Electronics, NOVA Charge, CHA Companies Inc. and Arrico Energy Group. He also said OUC is pursuing federal grant opportunities, including the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure federal grant program, to fund additional hubs and to support fleet electrification.

Orange County’s chief sustainability official, Carrie Black, who was introduced as the county’s chief sustainability and resiliency officer, described the hub as one piece of the county’s plan to deploy public charging at county‑owned facilities and to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions. Mayor Jerry L. Demings noted the county’s push on sustainability and said the new hub enhances charging options for residents and visitors to the busy I‑Drive tourism quarter.

Officials highlighted supporting programs such as OUC’s “ride and drive” events for county staff and local fleet outreach intended to encourage EV adoption and to familiarize fleet managers with electrification options. Mills said OUC’s stated targets include a 50% reduction of CO2 by 2030 and a 75% reduction by 2040 on the pathway to net‑zero by 2050.

Looking ahead: Mills and county staff said they plan further hubs across Central Florida, including sites near the airport and in the southern and eastern parts of OUC’s service territory, and that they are seeking additional grant funding to expand access and to prioritize equity and affordability. Attendees were invited to view a commemorative plaque and the new charging stations following the ceremony.