Growth & Jobs | Powering Jamaica’s e-mobility future: Inside the Charge ’n Go Revolution

WHEN RICHARD Gordon tells someone it costs only $4,500 to fully charge his service electric vehicle (EV), they often ask him to repeat what he said. After all, few Jamaicans can fill a petrol tank for that amount. The disbelief reflects a significant shift under way – one that is transforming how the island views transportation, energy, and the future.

Gordon, project manager for EV Charging Infrastructure, has been pivotal in bringing JPS’s e-mobility vision to life. A mechanical engineer by training, he began his tenure maintaining JPS’s power plants before joining the Generation Expansion team, where he transitioned from maintenance to building new facilities. His career naturally evolved into renewables. Gordon worked on JPS’s first wind project, contributed to what became the Blue Mountain Renewables (BMR) wind farm, helped deliver Jamaica’s first hydroelectric plant in Maggotty, St Elizabeth, and built a team to develop solar PV solutions for customers. These experiences prepared him for the challenge that would define his career: deploying JPS’s first set of public EV charging stations.

NEW ENERGY COMPANY

“When I returned to Jamaica after studying overseas, I said I’d give a few years to the traditional utility business then move into creating the footprint for a new energy company,” he recalls. His vision is rooted in the sector’s history: “When electricity first came to Jamaica, it started with sporadic engines and hydropower plants until everything was tied together into a network. That’s how I see transport and electricity. The two sectors will merge.”

Today, Gordon’s role balances technical oversight with customer engagement. His days range from commissioning new chargers and scouting sites across the island to monitoring global trends and technologies that will keep JPS ahead of the curve.

The Charge’ n Go network now operates 39 stations islandwide and intends to achieve 45 by year’s end. Initially, the vision behind the initiative was a modest demonstration project, considering the limited budget and the absence of Government policies at the time. The goal was visibility: to install 20 chargers, focusing on presence and raising awareness about e-mobility, as international EV trends indicated that the global transition was imminent. That strategy shifted when government incentives lowered tariffs on newer EVs, encouraging imports with larger batteries.

MODERN VEHICLES

“When the Government reduced import tariffs on vehicles three years old and newer, we pivoted,” Gordon explained. “We stopped installing Level 2 chargers and immediately shifted to placing predominantly fast chargers around 150 kilowatts.” This realignment was crucial, as it meant that more modern vehicles would enter the island, requiring faster charging rates. Today, JPS’s fast chargers can deliver a full charge in 15–20 minutes, meeting customer expectations and global standards. “It’s no longer just about having a presence,” Gordon stated. “It’s about building a grid of chargers where people can access services.”

EV charging is far more complex than simply installing units in parking lots. Each station brings together electrical engineering, software, telecommunications, and customer behaviour. “People think this is about selling electricity,” Gordon said, “but after a while they realise it’s really real estate development”.

Challenges include the lack of a universal plug standard, requiring the network to support multiple plug types. Adapters provide temporary solutions but pose safety risks at high power levels. To address this, the JPS combines robust hardware with advanced backend systems that monitor chargers in real time, detecting faults immediately. A small but skilled support team manages both preventive maintenance and quick responses, while the customer service team handles queries. The result is a network that despite natural downtimes, aims for reliability 24/7.

Public response has been overwhelmingly positive. Early adopters and environmentally conscious consumers have embraced EVs while curiosity continues to spread among the wider population.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

“The most rewarding part is interacting with customers,” Gordon reflects. “Meeting someone who once had range anxiety but now feels confident because of their experience with our network.” The financial benefits are compelling: drivers report 30–50 per cent savings compared with petrol, with even greater benefits for those pairing EVs with solar power. The interest reaches beyond EV owners. “Even police officers stop me to ask about electric vehicles,” Gordon said. “The sentiment is generally positive, even from people who just love the sound of an engine.”

Scaling the network comes with geographical hurdles. Urban areas like Kingston offer multiservice sites ideal for fast charging. Rural and coastal areas, by contrast, present unique challenges, including limited infrastructure, salt exposure, and small-scale commercial development.

“Take Manchioneal Bay to Port Antonio,” Gordon explained. “It’s a beautiful seaside road, but salt and electronics don’t mix. There are no shopping malls, just small shops and gas stations.” The JPS adapts with interim strategies such as placing standalone chargers where needed, while planning for larger convenience centres as development follows. Crucially, site selection now prioritises locations where customers can maximise their charging time with access to amenities such as shopping, dining, or running errands. “If customers give up 15 minutes to charge, they want to use it productively,” Richard said. “That’s why we look for locations with restrooms, pharmacies, or food services.”

Transport accounts for nearly 28 per cent of Jamaica’s CO₂ emissions, making e-mobility central to the island’s sustainability goals. For the JPS, Charge ’n Go is not only about convenience but also about climate leadership. “The world made this shift to cut emissions,” Gordon said. “It’s about merging transport and electricity to optimise energy use and integrate more renewables.” While most EV charging occurs at home, the public network provides reassurance and helps build trust in the transition thereby reducing range anxiety and supporting the adoption of EVs at scale.

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

The EV sector is evolving exponentially. A charger purchased today has vastly different capabilities compared to one installed just three years ago. Reliability, speed, and user experience continue to improve. Future plans include faster chargers, multiple units per site, and mixed capacities to serve both plug-in hybrids and full EVs. Gordon also expects a market “jump” as manufacturers release more affordable models with smaller batteries, making EVs accessible to a broader demographic. Beyond vehicles, he sees EVs as “mobile computers” with untapped potential, from powering homes for days to providing advanced safety features and integration into wider energy systems.

When asked about his legacy, Gordon’s first thought is of his daughter. “My legacy is that she, and all my friends’ children, will live in a world that’s safer from climate change.” But it is also about building foundations. “We’re constructing the backbone of an ecosystem,” he said. “Chargers are just one element. This is the platform for others to build on.”

The Charge ’n Go project is more than infrastructure. It is a testament to technical expertise, environmental necessity, and national progress. Gordon’s leadership, backed by JPS’s vision, shows how innovation can drive lasting transformation. That $4,500 fill-up, once met with disbelief, may soon be the new normal. As EVs silently traverse Jamaica’s roads, their quiet hum signals a revolution whose impact will resonate for decades to come.