A Barrage of New EV Models Requires More Infrastructure

According to a recent article in Forbes, Americans will purchase approximately two million EVs in 2022. Dr. Shelley Francis, co-founder, and director of EVHybridNoire notes that demand is increasing “as public perception of the technology shifts from novelty to mainstream,” thanks primarily to the plethora of new EV models hitting the market and a rapid expansion of infrastructure spearheaded by fast-charging network operators like EVCS.

As we’ve noted in the past, the large influx of new EV models is partly due to the hearty embrace of electric mobility technology by almost every major automaker on the planet, several of whom have announced their intention to phase out ICE manufacturing altogether within the next decade. Consumers are seeing a confluence of established brands like Audi, Volkswagen, and Ford with innovative new EV-only manufacturers like Polestar, Tesla, and Lucid Motors. Whether it’s the sporty Audi A6 e-tron, the rugged Ford F-150 Lightning, the luxurious Lucid Air, or the more economical Kia EV6, it seems the marketplace really does have something for everyone.

Also propelling the surging demand for these new EVs is a sui generis suite of features coveted by discerning young buyers who are looking for a unique driving experience. Examples abound. The Polestar 2 (and soon 3) with its origami-inspired headlights controlled by a front camera that can detect oncoming drivers and adjust brightness in real-time. The Mustang Mach E with its front trunk, or “frunk,” and Co-Pilot360 Assist that combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centering to reduce fatigue. Or the VW ID4’s voice-operated panoramic roof and ultra-efficient electric-resistance heater.

It’s true that EVs typically cost a little more upfront than their ICE counterparts, but this is largely due to the fact that the former come better equipped, with features otherwise considered “luxury” in the ICE version offered standard on the EV model. However, when also factoring in tax subsidies and rising gas prices, the ultimate cost to EV owners over the life of their vehicle is often considerably less than for ICE owners.

What does rapidly growing EV sales mean for charging infrastructure? Well, when combined with recent legislative victories and the deluge in new government funding, we believe 2022 is poised to see a huge uptick in publicly accessible DC fast chargers. The Golden State alone recently approved a $437 million fund to build over 40,000 charging ports, the largest-ever program of its kind, and according to McKinsey & Co’s recent report, energy demand for EV charging could top 53 billion kWh by 2030, an increase of about 20-fold.

As EV adoption continues to grow, going to a store, restaurant, café, theater, or sporting event will become a multi-purpose experience. People will charge up while they shop, eat, and get entertained. Chargers will necessarily become more abundant at such venues. Moreover, our symbiotic relationship with automakers means we will continue to improve our technology in tandem with the newest and hottest EVs. As such, we foresee a future where things like V2G, adaptive demand response, and faster charging times are the norm.

Bottom line: no matter what model EV we’re talking about, EVCS is committed to making the driver’s experience an exceptional one. Our charging ports work with every known EV model on the road, our monthly subscription plan is suitable for any budget level, our easy-to-use mobile app allows drivers to quickly find available chargers on our network and our customer service is second to none. So, bring on the coolest, sleekest, gnarliest new EVs you can imagine! We’re ready for all of them!

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Installation of the Month (June 2021): Hyatt Place Riverside/Downtown

The ability to travel is something many of us take for granted. Our Interstate Highway System allows us to freely traverse state boundaries – to go wherever we choose whenever we choose – from the snow-capped Colorado Rockies to the soupy Everglade swamplands to the historic lighthouses of coastal New England. However, EV drivers are more acutely aware of their travel limitations because many areas of the country have yet to adopt pro-electric infrastructure policies, often leaving them with few ground-travel options other than ICE vehicles. We knew getting more Americans to embrace the electric revolution would require buy-in from the hospitality industry. As such, much of our focus has gone toward hotels that, by serving as site hosts for charging stations, can help kickstart that ubiquitous access required to convert many EV holdouts.

Wall Street Journal Piece Brings Up Questions… And We Answer

Stephen Wilmot’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Investors Look for an EV Charge,” debates the merits of investing in EV infrastructure, admitting that while chargers likely make for better investments than cars, the sector still holds many potential pitfalls that should be considered before jumping in. While that may be true, many of the examples backing up this assertion cite the business models of the largest EV installers in the country while failing to consider what less visible but faster-growing companies like EVCS are doing to mitigate such risks. Below are a few quotes from the article and our thoughts on them, including how we’re different.

Commentary on EV Industry Profitability Claims

In a recent Driving.ca article titled “EV-Charging Industry is Doing Everything Except Making Money,” author David R. Baker makes a compelling argument that the EV infrastructure sector is a revenue desert, essentially incapable of generating enough cash flow to sustain profitability due to a lack of interest from motorists. “The dilemma boils down to demand,” he states, before adding that “lots of people still driving gasoline-powered cars won’t consider going electric until they see charging stations widely deployed.”

Installation of the Month (May 2021): LADOT Lot 656

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) notes on its website that ICE vehicles are one of the city’s top contributors to air pollution, accounting for 19% of all greenhouse gas emissions, before proclaiming, “We can do better… We’re investing in public transit, testing new technology, and adopting mobility innovations for a cleaner environment and brighter future.” At first, it might just sound like flowery rhetoric, but we can personally attest to that commitment. Starting in 2019, LADOT partnered with us to install DCFCs at 57 city-owned lots, with almost 30% of those installations now completed. This alliance has been integral in promoting our goal of zero-emission mobility in the City of Angels by facilitating greater access to infrastructure.

Addressing Pain Points in Creating EV Infrastructure

A recent GovTech.com article titled “How Biden Plans to Build 500 EV Charging Stations” discusses the President’s goals for creating a nationwide network of 500,000 such installations by 2030. While it does a smart job laying out many of the pain points we face in facilitating EV adoption, the mention of solutions was far less prevalent, and ones that were mentioned seemed speculative or tenuous. However, over the last three years, EVCS has already taken the lead in addressing many of these challenge areas, allowing us to dominate the installation market across the West Coast.