The awarded $8.1M will bolster the construction of 76 new EV chargers across Washington State
LOS ANGELES – January 24, 2023 -- EV Charging Solutions (EVCS), one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging network operators on the West Coast, today celebrates the award of $8.1M to build and retrofit 21 EV Fast Charging locations in Washington state. Awarded by the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnerships (ZEVIP) to Forth and Energy Northwest, these partnerships will support EVCS’s installation of 76 new and upgraded EV chargers along priority corridors in Washington.
Washington residents in 21 communities are set to receive access to 76 new EVCS chargers, including 42 chargers with ultra-fast charging capabilities of 150 to 350kW, boosting consumer confidence in public EV charging. Equipped with a 110V outlet for e-bikes and e-scooters, the stations will also offer the added ability to serve all models of electric vehicles.
“We’re honored to partner with the Washington State Department of Transportation to help accelerate consumer confidence across Washington to switch to an EV,” said Gustavo Occhiuzzo, CEO and Co-Founder at EVCS. “Our goal is to democratize the EV charging experience by tackling some of the largest hurdles EV drivers face today. This includes access to reliable and fast public EV charging across all applications, simplified and upfront pricing and access to more locations. With the help from the ZEVIP grant, we’re able to address these issues for Washington-based drivers and make the EV transition more seamless.”
With construction set to begin this month, the project, in collaboration with Forth Mobility Fund and Energy Northwest, supports Washington's mandate to ban the purchase of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Demand for EVs soared in 2022 as the number of first-time EV purchases in Washington state rose 43% from the previous year, with more than 29k vehicles sold.
Commenting on the partnership, Tonia Buell, Alternative Fuels Manager at the Washington State, Department of Transportation, said, “WSDOT is pleased that EVCS is upgrading the legacy West Coast Electric Highway equipment to serve more electric vehicles. The modern equipment will provide faster charging and expand access to all EV drivers.”
In addition to its work with the Washington State Department of Transportation, EVCS continues to expand its 100% net-zero carbon charger pipeline to support consumer EV adoption in underserved communities across the West Coast, which will play a critical role in helping states reach their transportation decarbonization goals.
For more information about EVCS, please visit https://evcs.com/.
About EVCS:
EVCS was founded in 2018 and has quickly become one of the largest and fastest-growing electric vehicle fast charging networks on the West Coast. Powered by 100% renewable energy, EVCS is disrupting the mobility power industry through a turn-key approach that utilizes public and private funding sources to encourage the installation of fast-charging locations. EVCS has secured over $75M in government funding and engaged nearly 150 partner sites to build and grow its net zero carbon network. EVCS’ mission is to cut emissions while simultaneously improving air quality by enabling the rapid adoption of zero-emission electric vehicles. For more information, visit www.evcs.com.
About Washington State Department of Transportation:
WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at wsdot.com/traffic or by dialing 511.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kelli (Dobbins) Weerasooriya
Sling & Stone
evcs@slingstone.com
Tonia Buell
WSDOT
buellt@wsdot.wa.gov
-