Electrification Progress in the Age of COVID

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It’s pretty clear that vaccine or no, COVID will be here for a while, and with it the new normal of face masks, social distancing, telecommuting and (consequently) less road travel. While some might view this with trepidation, we see it as an opportunity. Since the earliest weeks of the pandemic, major metro areas like Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago – those with large reductions in automobile traffic – immediately began seeing improvements in air quality, according to articles in the New York Times and Washington Post. More recent, an NPR story noted ozone pollution has decreased as much as 15% in many of these places. It seems an unintended consequence of the lockdown has been to accelerate the transition to responsible mobility by demonstrating its positive effects on the environment.

However, from a practical standpoint, the charging industry in general and our company in particular have faced its share of challenges. The government’s focus on addressing the crisis has resulted in longer permitting times. Supply chain disruptions mean greater waits for switchgear and other critical equipment. Hits taken by travel and hospitality businesses, from forced closures to reduced traffic, mean many potential clients are delaying installation of charging stations. Car sales across the board have dwindled.

Fortunately, since our founding, we have been defined by resilience, actively working to disrupt transportation industry norms and overcome obstacles – real or perceived – to EV adoption. We’ve stayed the course and not only managed to survive these unusual times, but thrive. How so? First, the State of California deemed EVCS an essential business due to our expertise at installing fuel infrastructure. On a state level, the Newsom administration has been extremely friendly toward the EV industry, and with new targets for statewide EV adoption by 2035 announced in the midst of the pandemic, that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. On a national level, the incoming Biden administration is poised to provide even more support.

Moreover, much of our funding comes from government agencies that remain fully operational, including state-run transportation boards and energy commissions, which remain vital to the nation’s operational health. For instance, CALeVIP is an organization funded by the CEC to support innovations in fuel technologies and transportation with the goal of improving air quality and reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuels. They currently have $91.9 million in capital to invest in meeting regional goals for Level 2 and DC fast charging, including a target of servicing 1.5 million EVs by 2025, and EVCS will be a prime beneficiary of such investment. COVID has done nothing to slow these initiatives.

In addition, our utilization of advanced networking technologies and staff’s ability to innovate during these ever-changing times means EVCS has barely skipped a beat in pursuit of its zero-emission mobility goals. We’ve adapted extremely well to working remotely, facilitated strategic partnerships with other essential businesses and secured funding for long-term infrastructure investment. In many instances, the pandemic has actually forced changes that improved efficiency and reduced operating costs. And our ability to fund installations means many cash-strapped companies who have temporarily shut down are using this time to put in charging stations.

Bottom line, our mission to increase EV adoption across California (and beyond) remains as strong today as it was when the company launched, and our track record has shown we have the means to achieve it. Vaccine or no, EVCS is extremely healthy and has shown strong immunity to the effects of the virus.

More information about CALeVIP and their mandate can be found on their website here: https://calevip.org/

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6 Reasons Why America Needs EVCS

EVCS has come a long way over a short time. In less than three years, we’ve taken a vision by company co-founders Gustavo Occhiuzzo and Ian Vishnevsky – one that incentivizes responsible mobility through increased access to charging infrastructure – and built upon it. We’ve partnered with state and local DOTs, developed advanced management software, pioneered affordable subscription charging plans, streamlined project installation processes, and reduced financial downsides while maximizing upsides for site owners, just to name a few.

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/

GREEN Act Delivers for EV Enthusiasts

The Biden Administration and fellow Democrats in Congress continue to lead the green energy charge, which is creating resounding benefits for the EV industry as a whole. The latest is the aptly named Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now, or GREEN, Act (you gotta love those clever acronyms!) sponsored by Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-5). Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee introduced the bill as a way to advance an agenda centered on achieving greater levels of sustainability, and we were pleased to see several provisions included that would further encourage EV adoption.

Installation of the Month (March 2021): The Elysian

EVCS continues to put charging stations in the ground at a record-setting pace, further proving that the notion of responsible mobility is gaining momentum with SoCal motorists. We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve been able to do over the past couple years, which has simultaneously benefitted countless individuals (with cheaper modes of transport), businesses (with new revenue models), and the environment (with cleaner air quality). Moreover, many of our newer sites are residential buildings, making EV ownership more of a practical reality for tens of thousands of Californians who have otherwise been apprehensive about cutting the cord with ICE vehicles.

Installation of the Month (February 2021): Hollywood & Highland

In the movie Spider-man, Uncle Ben tells Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The phrase, which came to be known as the “Peter Parker Principle,” is just as true today as it was 20 years ago when the movie first premiered. And just as Peter took seriously his newfound powers, we take seriously our responsibility to facilitate broader access to vehicle electrification options – quite literally the “great power” here is the electricity that keeps EVs moving. We also understand the power of movies and television to convey the importance of electric mobility, be it through information, entertainment or influence marketing. As such, Hollywood has become a tremendous partner in advancing the EVCS mission.