2021: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Two thousand twenty-one saw a plethora of advancements in the electric mobility space, from a record number of charging installations to innovative new EV models hitting the market to progressive climate legislation that is spurring the sea change away from pollutant-emitting ICEs. Amidst all this, the EVCS team once again looks back at the last 12 months to take stock of our own unique achievements in advancing the goal of a cleaner future.

Sustainable is Attainable

We became an EV fast-charging network operator powered by 100% renewable energy. To do this, we purchase a gigawatt-hour of electricity from one of our dedicated clean energy suppliers like wind and solar farms to offset each gigawatt-hour of electricity we use that doesn’t come from a renewable source.

A Brand Apart

We executed an ambitious marketing and publicity campaign aimed at communicating the ethos of the EVCS brand: accessibility, responsibility, sustainability. We hired professional photographers to generate quality images of our new charging installations, expanded our website’s blog content, and employed boutique publicity firm PR DEPT to ensure our messaging was reaching our core audience: you.

Capital Commitment

In April, we closed a credit facility with the Commodity and Global Markets division of Macquarie Group, an environmentally conscious financial services company with over half a century of unbroken profitability and nearly three-quarters of a trillion dollars under management. Our multi-million dollar deal allows us to continue the fast-paced expansion of our DCFC network as EV demand grows.

Media Matters

In May, we made public our partnership with iKahan Media, a certified outdoor media company, to employ a “digital billboard network” that fuses our chargers with state-of-the-art LED screens used for advertising and promotions. As a result, we created a new revenue stream for site owners that further improves the economic viability of hosting chargers.

Fit for Collaboration

June wasn’t all gloom as we began collaborating with Fitness International, parent company of national health club operator LA Fitness, that requires us to install and manage DCFCs at their various locations across SoCal. Their company benefits from revenue-sharing on every kWh charged while simultaneously offering a convenient new amenity to a rapidly growing market segment.

WCEH Gets a Facelift

In August, we announced that we were forging ahead with a plan to upgrade the 44 existing chargers along Oregon’s leg of the West Coast Electric Highway while also adding three more and turning 11 into large-scale “superstations.” The project was generously funded through a $4 million grant by ODOT, and in return, we rewarded EV drivers with free charging at these sites until the renovation is complete.

Partners in Clime

Less than a month ago, we revealed that we had joined forces with leading EV charging technology company Tritium in our quest to provide scalable solutions for carbon-neutral infrastructure. Our contract has us purchasing over 400 Tritium fast chargers as part of our strategy to significantly increase our network across California, Oregon, and Washington by the end of 2022.

Our DNA is Green

Our efforts have made a significant environmental impact. In 2021, our chargers saw over 195,000 kWh of charging, which resulted in estimated greenhouse gas reductions from 350,000 fewer ICE miles driven as well as the sequestering of carbon across the equivalent of 171 acres of US forests.

Looking Ahead to ‘22

With 2021 now mostly behind us, we again “charge” headfirst into the future. Our 2022 agenda is teeming with action items that include lobbying for and utilizing greater government incentives that increase EV adoption, building up our EV infrastructure across multiple US states, including renovation of the WCEH, facilitating numerous new strategic partnerships with both public and private entities, and spreading good cheer as we visibly reduce our carbon footprint.

Thanks to our readership for supporting this blog and we’ll see you again in the new year! Happy holidays from EVCS!

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Installation of the Month (July 2021): LADOT Lot 657

One of our main goals has been to install charging infrastructure in underserved communities, especially urban population centers that are key to our mission of wider EV adoption. Los Angeles is rife with such neighborhoods, where low-income families who wish to participate in the greening of society cry out for cost-effective ways to be part of the solution. Lincoln Heights, one of the oldest sections of the city, is a prime example. The densely populated area boasts numerous Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander groups who have expressed interest in electric mobility, but historically lacked access to the requisite charging stations. Moreover, with a median age of just 24, Lincoln Heights is brimming with younger generation Angelenos who have already embraced the idea of sustainability, but simply need the opportunity to take action.

West Coast Electric Highway to Receive Extensive Upgrade from EVCS

ARCADIA, Calif. (August XX, 2021) – EV Charging Solutions (EVCS), one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network operators on the West Coast, today announced that they are approved and funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to upgrade 44 and add three new electric vehicle charging stations on the Oregon portion of the original West Coast Electric Highway (WCEH). Eleven of the 47 stations will be called “superstations” and will include three DC fast chargers and one Level 2 AC charger. In all, more than 100 charging ports will be upgraded or added.

Is Policy Action Alone Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050?

Recently, BloombergNEF published a telling article titled, “Electric Vehicle Sales Set to Rise Faster Than Ever, but More Policy Action Needed to Get on Track for Net Zero.” The author raises many interesting observations about where we are now in the transition to electric mobility; where we’re projected to be in 10, 20 and even 30 years based on current trajectories; and what we need to do if we’re going to be net zero by 2050.

Auto Trends Magazine: Occhiuzzo Debunks 4 Misconceptions Surrounding EV Fast Charging Stations

Our co-founder and CEO, Gustavo Occhiuzzo, is quickly emerging as a thought leader in the world of electric mobility, becoming someone stakeholders can count on to demystify obscurities and address falsehoods surrounding the installation and application of charging infrastructure. Like any new technology, resistance to adoption is often based on fallacious notions, some of which may be perpetrated by those with a financial interest in competing technologies. Therefore, countering such notions with facts is crucial if both drivers and site hosts are to make an informed decision about EV adoption. Occhiuzzo most recently addressed four of the biggest misconceptions surrounding chargers in the article below for Auto Trends Magazine.

“Who’s Saving the Planet?” Podcast Interviews Gustavo Occhiuzzo

EVCS co-founder and CEO Gustavo Occhiuzzo recently spoke on the “Who’s Saving the Planet?” podcast about the electric mobility revolution and what we as a company are doing to help realize a truly carbon-neutral future. During the conversation with hosts Anthony Noto and Jessica Miles, Occhiuzzo made several critical points that help listeners understand where we are now in that mission, the obstacles we face, what EVCS has done to overcome those obstacles, and what we can do better as a global community. Here are some of the most prescient points: