2020: A Year in Review

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Two thousand twenty has been a year of undeniable adversity, but also one of remarkable achievement. A year of firsts and hopefully a few lasts. A time of toil and tribulation, but also of triumph. For genuine success is partly defined by our ability to hurdle those implacable obstacles that make the result so noteworthy in the first place. Now, as the EVCS team looks back on this unusual year, we take stock of our unique achievements that made 2020 one for the books.

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Financial Strength

Despite government-mandated shutdowns and prolonged work interruptions, we are on track to end 2020 – our second full year of operation – in profit. Moreover, we increased revenue over last year by a substantial order of magnitude and were able to secure several desirable financial instruments that look to have EVCS humming well into the future.

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Clean Fuel Connection

We acquired an electric installation company from Clean Fuel Connection, Inc., a respected equipment distributor and leader in EV charging infrastructure that already shared our commitment to improving air quality through alternative fuel technology. This acquisition gives us a strong foothold in the already competitive installation market. Learn more at www.cleanfuelconnection.com.

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West Coast Electric Highway

We advanced our mission to create wider accessibility for EVs through our acquisition of the WCEH, an extensive network of 112 DCFC and Level 2 fast chargers throughout Oregon and Washington. Stations are located every 25 to 50 miles in close proximity to freeways and at desirable points of interest. See more at https://evcs.com/wceh.

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Software Innovation

The key to powering such an enormous number of charge points is our new proprietary networking software. This end-to-end management solution allows site hosts a wealth of options, including usage metrics for peak and off-peak times, multiple payment processing options, data on the health of each port, and a world-class mobile app with customer-friendly interface.

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Online Facelift

Early this fall, we launched our brand new, fully redesigned website (https://evcs.com/) complete with details on our turnkey customer solutions, a state-by-state breakdown of EV-related funding programs, a map of our West Coast charging stations and, of course, this nifty blog. We also created a simple online intake form so prospective site hosts could easily reach out.

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A Top Installer

Supportive state-level organizations and a vigorous grassroots marketing effort created a strong tailwind that we were able to capitalize on, resulting in a record number of EVCS installations – with over 500 in the ground as of this writing. And with customer demand steadily increasing year over year, we are just grazing the surface of what we can do.

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What’s Ahead in 2021

With a robust 2020 now mostly in the rearview mirror, we focus our sights on the year ahead – strategizing our approach to build on and improve upon those strides we have already made toward fully realizing the EVCS mission. Our 2021 plans include a new customer subscription model with unlimited monthly charging; renovation of the WCEH, including the mass upgrade of Level 2 chargers to DCFC; continued growth throughout California via a strong pipeline of new projects; and early expansion of the EVCS brand into new states.

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Thanks for reading and we look forward to bringing you lots of useful insights in the new year! In the meantime, happy holidays from the EVCS team!

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Recap of “Today, Explained” Podcast: It’s Electric!

Recently, we listened to Vox’s Umair Irfan discuss on his Today, Explained podcast how Norway has been trailblazing in the world of electric mobility and what strides the US can make to follow suit. We not only found the episode a fascinating exploration of how our Scandinavian friends serve as both innovators and motivators, but it elucidated ways in which EVCS can and has been working toward similar goals within the US. Below are some of the key takeaways from the podcast as well as how it relates to what we’re doing here and now.

EVCS Fast Charging Network to Use 100% Renewable Energy (Newsire)

One of the most common criticisms foisted on the electric mobility industry is that EVs are not technically carbon neutral since the electricity needed to power them is generated through fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas. This argument is not without merit and presents those of us in the EV infrastructure sector with yet another lofty goal – true carbon neutrality through electrical grids powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar. And our most recent press release discusses how we at EVCS are doing just that.

EVCS Secures Credit Facility with Macquarie Group (Newswire)

We recently employed PR firm Firecracker to help us get the word out about all of the wonderful things EVCS is doing to make an all-electric future a reality. One major step toward this goal was our securing a credit facility that would allow for accelerated expansion of EV infrastructure, giving us confidence that the financial support required would be available when we needed it. Our PR team then went to work, drafting the following press release that outlines the particulars of this momentous achievement:

Installation of the Month (April 2021): Hilton Hotel & Plaza San Gabriel

Hilton is one of the most recognizable and respected organizations in the world. They own 18 different brands and more than 6,400 properties in 119 countries. Since 1925, they’ve been a model of the hospitality industry – synonymous with customer relations, integrity and innovation, which extends into areas like sustainability and the environment. Their website’s “Corporate Responsibility” page cites a commitment to fighting climate change, stating: “We seek to operate and grow sustainably, reducing our consumption of natural resources… We are proud to have set carbon reduction targets aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement.” And they continue to back up this commitment, including recently asking us to install EV charging banks at one of their key Los Angeles locations.

Analysis of Biden’s Infrastructure Plan

President Biden finally held his first official press conference last Thursday, March 25th, wherein he addressed his $2.2 trillion infrastructure bill, albeit from a high level that was light on details. What we do know is that the legislation will include $174 billion dedicated specifically to incentivizing EV manufacturing, the building of charging networks, tax credits for EV purchasers, and the development of alternative fuel technologies. The goal, Biden says, is to have a minimum of 500,000 EV charging stations installed across the country by 2030.