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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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.

Partnerships for Progress: Spotlight on Barlow Respiratory Hospital

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.