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. (See the complete article here: https://www.govtech.com/transportation/biden-plans-to-build-500-ev-charging-stations#:~:text=President%20Joe%20Biden%20has%20proposed,charging%20stations%20nationwide%20by%202030)

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.

Below are specific obstacles mentioned in the article that many believe are hampering widespread EV adoption along with ways that we have been working to overcome them.

“Experts say significantly expanding the charging network would require coordination across the auto industry, retail businesses, utility companies and all levels of government.”

Our turnkey solutions are predicated upon a systematic unification of private business owners who host the chargers, utilities that provide the power (including grid balancing and demand response), and local governments that simultaneously act as site hosts, permitting agencies and funding sources. As for auto manufacturers, we’re committed to making chargers that work with any EV on the road that doesn’t utilize proprietary technology.

“Consumers fear that they won’t be able to take a road trip or visit out-of-town relatives in an electric vehicle — which remains one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption.”

We have become the fastest-growing installer of EV infrastructure on the West Coast and are responsible for over half of all new chargers in Los Angeles between 2020 and 2021. Our revitalization of the West Coast Electric Highway has expanded access throughout Oregon and Washington. And we have plans to grow our network to more underserved communities, not just on the West Coast, but across the country. Our ambitious expansion of the EVCS network is actively extinguishing range anxiety through highly increased accessibility.

Photo Courtesy of Norsk Elbilforening (Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association)

“In order for EVs to be more pervasive, it’s going to have to be gas station-like, where you can find an EV charging station with significant capacity almost anywhere.”

In large part, our focus has been on installing charging stations at key junctures like near freeway ramps and at local points of interest such as restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls, transit centers and city parks. Moreover, we’ve concentrated on key tourist-style destinations that will help facilitate long-distance EV travel, including hotels, casinos, visitor centers and convention centers.

“Level 2 chargers (which typically charge slowly over hours while the owner is at work or at home) cost about $4,000 to install and DC fast chargers… cost between $50,000 and $110,000 to install. Once installed, maintaining the chargers also costs thousands of dollars.”

We research, identify and access myriad federal and state funding opportunities, ensuring that most of our clients pay nothing for their installations. The majority of our network is DCFC, meaning drivers can charge their EVs up to 80% in under an hour – perfect for a quick trip to the grocery store, gym or coffeehouse. In addition, our solutions include no-cost maintenance for five years. So, not only do site hosts save tens of thousands of dollars in costs, but they add a significant new revenue stream with the possibility to attract a whole new customer base.

“Some argue electric vehicles aren’t totally zero-emissions because fossil fuels are still the largest electricity source in the country.”

We have already taken steps to ensure EVCS chargers are powered 100% by clean, abundant, renewable energy. Not only will our customers have access to one of the largest DC fast charging networks in the nation, but they will also have peace of mind knowing that they are truly having a positive impact on the environment by reducing fossil fuel usage.

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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.

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.