ATLANTA, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon (NYSE: SPG), a global leader in retail real estate, is partnering with NRG eVgo (ee-vee-go), a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) to host an Earth Day Caravan of electric vehicles (EV) through Atlanta to highlight new eVgo fast-charging Freedom Station® sites located at popular shopping centers across the greater Atlanta area. The rolling event will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21 and will stop at stations at Town Center at Cobb in Kennesaw, Lenox Square in Atlanta and Mall of Georgia in Buford and feature charging demonstrations for the EVs on the drive, including Nissan LEAFs, Chevrolet Volts and a BMW i3.

Stopping at sites from the northwest, into the city and then to the northeast, the caravan will underscore the comprehensive network located at premier shopping destinations.  This network provides range confidence to EV drivers as they travel across metropolitan Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs, and the ease with which consumers can confidently adopt EVs, live more sustainably and power the green economy.

"In Atlanta, one out of every 60 cars purchased is an EV. The city is the number one market for the Nissan LEAF. This adoption is incredible and confirms that sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand -- the key theme of this year's Earth Day," said Jason Buckland, eVgo infrastructure development, Atlanta.

"eVgo is proud to support such strong interest in EVs by providing practical fast-charging solutions at shopping centers throughout Atlanta," Buckland continued. "This caravan demonstrates the range and capabilities of EVs backed up by easily accessible fast charging stations where drivers need them. Opening three stations at once indicates the demand for stations, and we're looking forward to extending our network even farther from Atlanta as more drivers make the switch to EVs."

Each station features DC fast chargers that can provide 40 miles of range in as little as 15 minutes of charge, delivering extra range at convenient locations when customers need it. The stations also feature Level 2 (240V) chargers, which are similar to the chargers EV drivers may have at home, and can connect to all consumer EVs.

The three Atlanta area stations that will be part of the Earth Day Caravan are located at Town Center at Cobb, Lenox Square and Mall of Georgia. Additional stations  are operational at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, Atlanta and North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville.

"Simon is committed to providing sustainable amenities for our customers and the opening of three EV charging stations today is a great example of that," said Mona Benisi, Senior Director of Sustainability for Simon. "The locations of our shopping centers across the U.S. mean that Simon is ideally positioned to contribute to the development of a national infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations, and also advances the company's sustainability efforts."

Throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, there is a rich network of eVgo charging stations to choose from with more than 20 fast chargers and plans to develop many more stations throughout Georgia. Drivers can easily locate the eVgo station nearest them or where they're going through an interactive map on eVgo's website; eVgo stations feature 24/7 service for seamless EV support at any hour of the day.

For more information on the growth of the eVgo network in Atlanta and to view locations of local NRG eVgo network stations, visit www.nrgevgo.com.

About NRG eVgo
The NRG eVgo SM network gives electric vehicle (EV) owners new freedom and range confidence via home and workplace charging docks, plus a network of fast charging stations conveniently located at retailers along major transportation corridors within eVgo cities. Service plans offered by eVgo can provide EV owners a home or workplace charger and use of eVgo's Freedom Station® sites and other public charging stations. eVgo is a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 company at the forefront of changing how people think about, buy and use energy. Through eVgo, NRG will provide access to hundreds of public charging sites across California, Texas and the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. To find out more, or to join the eVgo network, visit www.nrgevgo.com. Connect with eVgo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgevgo.

About Simon
Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE: SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simon-and-nrg-evgo-lead-caravan-of-electric-vehicles-through-atlanta-for-earth-day-300067956.html

SOURCE Simon; NRG eVgo

Maria Weber, Simon, 317-437-4658, Maria.weber@simon.com; or David Knox, Communications, NRG eVgo, 832-357-5730, david.knox@nrg.com