Catering to Niche Markets

EV drivers are as unique as the cars they own. All have special reasons why electric mobility is the sensible choice for them. In that vein, we recognize that building a massive new EV network is not a one-size-fits all strategy, but one that takes into account the needs of niche groups across the country. Below is just a smattering of the smaller market subsets we have in mind as we aim to make the transition to electric feel more personal and individualistic based on things like interests, jobs, and locale.

Long-Distance Commuters

We understand that range anxiety is a barrier to entry for many, which is why we’ve invested in more chargers near highway on- and off-ramps and along other key transportation corridors, as evidenced by our revitalization of the West Coast Electric Highway.

Recreationalists and Domestic Travelers

We recognize that leisure travel is important to many Americans, yet many recreation spots lack the infrastructure to support vacationers with EVs, which is why we installed stations near points of interest like Crater Lake in Oregon, Snoqualmie Falls in Washington, and Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

Electric Motorbikes

Companies like Zero, Lightning, and Harley-Davidson have started actively pushing their all-electric bikes over the last few years, and we offer them DCFCs that can charge 100+ miles of range in just 20 minutes or a full charge in about 35.

Trucks

From small pickups to big cargo vans, it feels like the backbone of America was built with trucks. We know EV drivers love them too, and with more models on the horizon, we’re making sure we offer public charging stations with spaces large enough to accommodate bigger vehicles

Fleets

More fleet owners are switching to electric as the economic benefits become palpable. We focus on installing infrastructure at commercial, industrial, and municipal sites where fleets can enjoy advanced network options like customized demand response and real-time performance monitoring.

Rural Markets

Underserved markets are one of our specialties. Urban infrastructure has driven the explosion of chargers, but those living in rural areas want to participate in the greening of society as well, and we actively seek out their participation, which is necessary if we’re truly to become carbon negative.

Urbanites

City-dwellers will always be a core constituency, largely because they want to reduce the excessive emissions that often come from their neighborhoods. We reward their advocacy with abundant chargers everywhere, from condos to coffee shops to college campuses.

Sports Enthusiasts

We have installed chargers near sporting venues like Dodger Stadium and Crypto.com Arena while also expanding into college athletics departments like CSU Maritime. We have also partnered with LA Fitness to install chargers at their locations across California and feature their ads on our charger screens.

Government Employees

Local, state, and federal governments have been a driving force in the EV revolution, from infrastructure subsidies to vocal support for clean energy alternatives. We, in turn, reciprocate by bringing our own expertise to those government venues that want to make charging available for their employees.

You

Whatever it is that drives you, we want to cater to why you drive. And no matter who you are or where you fit, we offer great across-the-board resources such as an app that helps you quickly find chargers, manage your payment preferences and track your charging history; value-driven subscription plans; top-of-the-line Level 2 and 3 chargers that will work with any EV; and world-class customer service that gives you the individual attention you deserve.

Back

Navigating California’s New EV Mandate

California’s going all in on electric. On August 25th, Governor Gavin Newsom made a very important announcement concerning the future of transportation in the Golden State: “We can solve this climate crisis if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to cut pollution. California now has a groundbreaking, world-leading plan to achieve 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035.” Big and bold, indeed. And while highly encouraging, it brings up a number of questions moving forward.

How EVCS is Repairing Reliability Concerns

One of the biggest concerns among EV drivers today is the reliability of public chargers. One recent survey from the Department of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley claims as many as 23% of public chargers in the Bay Area alone are, as Wired sums up, “nonfunctioning at any given time, stymied by broken screens, shoddy credit card or payment systems, network connection failures, or damaged plugs.” And that’s in a locale prioritizing the conversion to electric. Testimony from motorists seems to corroborate these findings. A CEC survey of 1,290 EV drivers found that fully 60% had experienced damaged or inoperable chargers, while almost half needed assistance from customer service. We find this wholly unacceptable and have taken measures to ensure that chargers in the EVCS network rise to the standard of operability our customers expect. Here are a few ways we’re doing that:

Installation of the Month (July 2022): Kenwood Inn & Spa

A key focus for us over the last several years has been the installation of additional chargers at holiday hot spots, tourist destinations, and other key points of interest. Not only will it help dispel long-range travel anxiety among many new EV drivers, but it will also lead to a significant reduction in carbon emissions otherwise generated by gas-guzzlers during peak vacation seasons. Moreover, our egalitarian approach to site selection means we’re just as likely to install a charger at a McDonald’s as we are at a Morton’s since we understand the value in catering to a broad clientele. However, higher net worth individuals continue to drive EV sales in the US (a June 2021 Fuels Institute study specifies middle-aged males with household incomes over $100,000), so catering to venues that offer a luxury experience will encourage even greater participation by this group while serving as a bellwether for lower-income drivers who are attracted to the idea of electric mobility as a symbol of status.

Mexico to Canada EV Road Trip: EVCS Interview

We sat down with EV owner and enthusiast Anthony Williams, a 60-year-old business owner from San Diego, who recently commemorated the 10-year anniversary of his first trans-American road trip in an EV by retracing the same route to see what had changed in the world of EV fast charging, for better or for worse. Below are some of his insights and feedback.

Installation of the Month (June 2022): KPC Anaheim Global Medical Center

“For us, healthcare is not only about caring for our patients, but also about investing in the people who live in our communities.” These are the words emblazoned across the home page of the KPC Anaheim Global Medical Center’s website. Facilities like these are attractive partners for us because, like us, their goal is the betterment of humanity. In fact, just replace “healthcare” with “electric mobility” and “patients” with “planet,” and you have the EVCS mission statement in a nutshell. Allying with kindred spirits creates a natural synergy for us through the sharing of core values like customer service and an improved quality of life. Imagine then our excitement when KPC decided to install four of our newest DC fast chargers on their Anaheim property, giving us the opportunity to continue expanding our network southward.