Analysis of Biden’s Infrastructure Plan

Photo by Adam Schultz / Biden for President

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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.

While the cause is noble, CNBC reporter Michael Wayland notes that government support alone may be insufficient to build the infrastructure necessary to spur such an electric revolution, especially in less than a decade. He cites concerns about lagging EV adoption and an analysis by New York-based consulting firm AlixPartners that highlights the high costs of some chargers. (See that full article here: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/31/us-ev-charging-system-a-priority-under-bidens-2-trillion-infrastructure-plan.html.)

We agree that it will take more than government support alone to accomplish the goal of an all-electric future. It will take a commitment from manufacturers to create safe, well-designed, well-appointed vehicles in a variety of styles that will attract customers. It will take a coordinated effort to educate consumers on the economic and environmental value of purchasing an EV. It will take researchers and engineers creating new technology that make greater levels of sustainability achievable and affordable. And it will take companies like EVCS with the skill and expertise to execute a vertically integrated charging network at scale.

In short, it takes a village. However, we also believe this initial investment will serve as a catalyst to greater EV adoption by helping make chargers more pervasive and thereby reducing most consumers’ biggest reluctance: convenient access to power when away from home. As more charging stations go up, so will EV purchases. The cycle will then result in more chargers still to address the growing number of EVs on the road, which will then prompt further EV purchases, and so forth, with the increase in supply ultimately driving down costs across the board.

As the EV market becomes more economically viable, government subsidization will become less necessary. Private enterprises will start investing their own capital in charging infrastructure as it becomes apparent that demand is rising. And while higher-powered chargers like DCFCs (which can fill a typical EV battery to 80% in as little as 20 minutes) may cost more now, the investment will pay dividends by addressing the needs of Americans who are always on the go. Mass EV adoption and improved technology over time will subsequently lead to manufacturing more DCFCs at cheaper prices.

Biden’s plan also includes replacing 50,000 diesel transit vehicles with EVs and electrifying at least 20% of the country’s school buses, which will require many dedicated charging stations to ensure a seamless transition. Furthermore, while companies like Ford, GM and Volkswagen are starting to invest heavily in EV development, they seem to have little interest in building and operating their own charging networks (unlike Tesla), instead leaving it to more experienced entities like EVCS.

We are in a particularly enviable position here, having cut our teeth servicing the most lucrative and demanding EV market in the US. We understand the needs of site owners, drivers and carmakers. We know the assessment, permitting, trenching and installation process inside out, which means significant time and cost savings. We can offer a complete turnkey solution to states and municipalities that receive a share of this federal payout, with charging sites tailored specifically to the needs of each community. For instance, tourist destinations will likely want charging banks at high-traffic points of interest while mining towns may need them near industrial work sites.

Bottom line, wherever this new infrastructure spending takes us, we have the tools and talent to help lay the groundwork for achieving the administration’s goals.

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Installations of the Month (November 2021): LADOT Lots 628 & 639

Los Angeles continues to be the epicenter for America’s green transportation “EV-olution,” and EVCS continues to lead the charge there, having installed over half the city’s publicly accessible non-Tesla charging stations for two years running. According to industry group Veloz, nearly one in 10 new vehicle sales in California are plug-in vehicles – which accounts for 45% of all plug-in vehicle sales nationwide – and that trend is only growing. In our research, many Angelenos cite the increased prevalence of DCFCs as a key reason why owning an EV has become practical, reducing their range anxiety and offering lightning-fast charging options while they shop, eat and play. This further reinforces the idea that greater access to modern charging infrastructure leads to more EVs on the road, especially in underserved areas that are sorely in need of outside economic investment to spur growth.

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Every now and then, if you’re lucky, you have the good fortune to engage with a strategic partner who shares your goals, values and vision. With acres of common ground, you effortlessly work hand in hand to advance causes that truly matter to the both of you. For EVCS, Barlow Respiratory Hospital is such a partner – one of those rare facilities that fully embodies our commitment to making the planet a safer, healthier, happier place, one person at a time.

The Electrical Vehicle Industry Keeps Growing, and More Drivers are Making the Switch

The electrical vehicle industry keeps growing and more drivers are making the switch. This is why governments around the world are working to provide EV users with more and more places to recharge their cars. At EVCS, we’ve created an app that you can use when wondering “Hey, where can I find electric car charging stations near me.”

Top 10 Reasons Why Mass EV Adoption is Inevitable

According to evadoption.com, EV sales are expected to grow from 3.4% of all new auto sales in 2021 to 29.5% in 2030. In fact, they cite several models that forecast explosive growth in EV ownership across the US over the next decade. See the full sales forecasts here complete with bar charts and supporting data: https://evadoption.com/ev-sales/ev-sales-forecasts/. While skeptics might pooh-pooh these projections as overly optimistic, we believe they may actually fall short of the eventual reality. Of course, only time will tell, but below are our top 10 reasons why we believe EVs will be as commonplace as microwaves come 2030.

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.