‍2022: A Year in Review

As 2022 draws to a close, the EVCS team looks back on a year filled with so much progress and success across our industry, including a sharp rise in EV sales, a record number of new EV makes and models, advances in battery technology, and groundbreaking legislation on both state and national levels that promote the promise of electric mobility. We celebrate those achievements that have made sustainable ever yet attainable while simultaneously building toward future goals. For EVCS in particular, 2022 proved to be a watershed year in both regards.

‍

A High-Voltage Highway‍

In May, with Oregon governor Kate Brown by his side, EVCS co-founder Ian Vishnevsky unveiled 44 upgraded EV chargers making up that state’s leg of the West Coast Electric Highway. The revamped DC fast chargers, primarily located along I-5, I-84 and US-101, replaced the old CHAdeMO-only system in favor of new CHAdeMO and CCS1 combo connectors while also adding 110V outlets for e-bikes and scooters.

‍

Get Green, Go Green

In early July, we completed a $68.8 million capital raise aimed at accelerating our fast-charging network across the West Coast, including expansion into 35 new cities while increasing charger density in existing ones. The financing was comprised of an $18.8 million Series A equity round from Spring Lane Capital, Abdo Partners and Copulous Group along with an additional $50 million debt facility from Spring Lane.

‍

Powered by People

Also this summer, we hired former Amazon marketing exec and digital media guru Kirk Johnson as Chief Growth Officer, who has since spearheaded the development of all our customer-facing touchpoints. His hiring was then followed by a spate of others, including a Head of Construction, VP of Sales, VP of Partnerships, VP of Software Engineering, and Head of Growth Marketing.

‍

An Amped-Up Media Campaign

Just this year alone, we’ve earned over 100 media placements across an array of platforms and outlets, including Business Insider, Tech Crunch, CarBuzz, dot.LA, Automotive News and ABC 7. Their content has praised EVCS for raising the standards of reliability in EV charging, increasing the pace of transitioning to electric, and rolling out progressive new payment models that simplify EV ownership.

‍

A Powerhouse Partner

Last year, we announced a contract to purchase over 500 Tritium DCFCs as we worked to expand West Coast EV infrastructure. This year, we’ve stepped it up, ordering an additional 300 of their 50kW RTM fast chargers, which brings their total contribution to our network to over 800. Tritium is a Nasdaq-listed company that has won numerous awards for product innovation, design and engineering.

‍

Subscribe and Save

In October, we revealed key changes to our industry-disrupting subscription platform – namely the launch of a cost-savings calculator and two new unlimited charging tiers (Off-Peak Pro and Anytime Pro) that open access to previously excluded commercial classes such as rideshare and delivery drivers. Analysis shows our subscriptions plans could save the average EV driver almost $700 a year.

‍

Bigger is Better

We now have a record number of installations across the West Coast as we pioneer new ways to democratize EV infrastructure. A total of 661 chargers, including 236 DCFCs, can be found across 150+ different locations – and growing – from supermarkets and gyms to public lots and parking garages. We also installed our first 100kW fast charger this year at the beautiful Kenwood Inn in Sonoma.

‍

Looking Ahead to ‘23

While we’ve made great strides toward a clean-energy future, we know there is much more to do. Our 2023 goals include improving charger density across California, Oregon and Washington; continued renovation of the WCEH; the creation of new digital processes and product experiences that reduce barriers to EV ownership; and expanded marketing efforts that espouse the virtues of going electric.

‍

Many thanks to our valuable readership and we look forward to connecting with you again in the new year! Together, we're making a difference.

Happy holidays from EVCS.

‍

Back

New EV Tax Incentives Will Drive Infrastructure Growth

Rarely has the progress of a fledgling new industry been so predicated upon passage of legislation as was the clean energy transportation sector with the $1.2 trillion once-in-a-lifetime infrastructure bill that Joe Biden signed into law on Monday. In addition to money for roads, bridges, ports, public transit – you know, all the usual stuff – the Build Back Better bill provides bold new incentives for drivers to go electric, including a $7,500 tax credit for EV buyers through 2026. Cars costing $50,000 or less and trucks, vans and SUVs costing $80,000 or less will qualify.

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.

Spectrum News: SoCal Company Looks to Meet Growing Need for EV Charging Stations

Recently, our CEO and co-founder, Gustavo Occhiuzzo, was featured in a Spectrum News 1 segment titled “Inside the Issues” with Alex Cohen. He was able to not only convey the challenges we face as we work toward a more electric future, but also the strides EVCS has already made in addressing those challenges as well as some of our most significant achievements. Examples include our deal with LADOT to install DC fast chargers at 57 city-owned lots, our doubling of non-Tesla chargers in LA since last year alone, and the fact that EVCS has become one of the largest and fastest growing installers of EV charging stations on the West Coast in less than three years. See the interview clip and accompanying article below to learn more.

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.

What Volvo’s Announcement Means to Us

Recently, Volvo made a stunning announcement: it has committed to selling only battery-powered EVs by 2030. Not just in Europe, mind you. Everywhere. The news comes on the heels of recent automaker reports showing a surge in worldwide EV sales and the official unveiling of Volvo’s second BEV this past Tuesday – the C40 Recharge crossover coupe. (The XC40 introduced in 2018 was the first.) See more details in the article here: https://www.newsmax.com/Finance/streettalk/volvo-electric-vehicles-ev-online/2021/03/02/id/1012158/