How a Biden Administration Helps EVCS

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For EV enthusiasts generally and EVCS specifically, the election results are cause for great optimism. Joe Biden has shown himself to be a true friend to the electric mobility industry, so we thought we’d outline a few ways a Biden presidency will likely benefit our company, our mission and our customers.

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Subsidization of EV Infrastructure

According to The Detroit News, while at a campaign stop in Toledo, Ohio on October 12th, Biden boasted of plans to create a nationwide “network of 500,000 charging stations” by 2030, primarily along major US highway routes where traditional fueling stations still dominate. He made a similar claim during the first presidential debate. While specifics were hazy, the implication is that federal funding will be made available to network operators like EVCS who have the know-how and wherewithal to implement his vision.

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Federal Rebates

CleanTechnica.com published an article on November 1st detailing some of Biden’s EV-related tax proposals. They include restoring the $7,500 tax credit permanently for all US-made EVs, narrowing it to those earning less than $250,000 per year, and removing the manufacturer cap, which penalizes industry leaders like GM and Tesla. This will make EVs more accessible, especially to those with limited means, thereby increasing the number of EVs on the road and, by association, the need for infrastructure.

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Government Fleet Vehicles

A November 9th piece in Car and Driver emphasized Biden’s vision of EVs as “the future of transportation.” As such, he’s not only looking to promote greater EV participation in the market, but also within the government itself, replacing outdated ICE fleet vehicles with modern, American-made electric alternatives. We have always touted our history of working with government municipalities and our fleet-specific turnkey solutions, so we should be well positioned to assist in such a transition.

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Fuel Economy Standards

The Trump administration rolled back many of the Obama-era fuel economy standards over its four years in power. According to FactCheck.org, these “were originally set to hit an average of 54.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars… by 2025.” The idea was to incentivize auto manufacturers to produce vehicles (like EVs) that would curtail fossil fuel usage and therefore reduce pollution. With Biden in the White House, it seems almost assured that, although delayed, a return to these standards will be fast-tracked, requiring more installations to support the greater EV output.

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Bringing Attention to Climate Change

Biden has made the climate change battle a consistent part of his platform and routinely plugs electrified transportation as a necessary part of the solution. Moreover, he sees the California EV market, where EVCS has been a key player in infrastructure generation, as a model of environmental activism for the rest of the nation to follow. According to CNBC, he proclaimed, “I’m all for electric cars. I’ve given big incentives for electric cars. What they’ve done in California is just crazy.”

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Additional Factors

Biden’s spirited tone toward EVs will promote the idea of responsible mobility to nationwide audiences. His investments in environmental sciences will encourage new technology advancements. His plan to rein in COVID will get more EVs back on the road as people start traveling again. And his promise to reduce foreign tariffs will lower the cost of international auto parts, making EVs cheaper to produce and more affordable to buy. All of these things will result in a need for the kind of infrastructure we provide.

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Obviously, such change won’t happen in a bubble, but fortunately, Biden seems to have the support of the big carmakers as well. On a recent call regarding battery technology, GM’s VP of Electric & Autonomous Programs, Ken Morris, stated, “We’re looking forward to working with the Biden administration in support of policies that will foster greater adoption of EVs across all 50 states and encourage investments in R&D and manufacturing.” Promising news, indeed.

Congratulations President-elect Biden and we look forward to working with you on building a zero-emission transportation future.

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See the full news stories cited above here:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/15/joe-biden-electric-vehicles-were-not-investing/3671492001/

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/01/joseph-biden-aims-to-improve-us-ev-tax-credit-restore-it-for-tesla-gm/

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34620816/biden-presidency-cars-evs/

https://www.factcheck.org/2019/05/the-facts-on-fuel-economy-standards/

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/30/trump-and-biden-both-say-they-support-electric-vehicles-in-debate.html

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Wall Street Journal Piece Brings Up Questions… And We Answer

Stephen Wilmot’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Investors Look for an EV Charge,” debates the merits of investing in EV infrastructure, admitting that while chargers likely make for better investments than cars, the sector still holds many potential pitfalls that should be considered before jumping in. While that may be true, many of the examples backing up this assertion cite the business models of the largest EV installers in the country while failing to consider what less visible but faster-growing companies like EVCS are doing to mitigate such risks. Below are a few quotes from the article and our thoughts on them, including how we’re different.

Commentary on EV Industry Profitability Claims

In a recent Driving.ca article titled “EV-Charging Industry is Doing Everything Except Making Money,” author David R. Baker makes a compelling argument that the EV infrastructure sector is a revenue desert, essentially incapable of generating enough cash flow to sustain profitability due to a lack of interest from motorists. “The dilemma boils down to demand,” he states, before adding that “lots of people still driving gasoline-powered cars won’t consider going electric until they see charging stations widely deployed.”

Installation of the Month (May 2021): LADOT Lot 656

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) notes on its website that ICE vehicles are one of the city’s top contributors to air pollution, accounting for 19% of all greenhouse gas emissions, before proclaiming, “We can do better… We’re investing in public transit, testing new technology, and adopting mobility innovations for a cleaner environment and brighter future.” At first, it might just sound like flowery rhetoric, but we can personally attest to that commitment. Starting in 2019, LADOT partnered with us to install DCFCs at 57 city-owned lots, with almost 30% of those installations now completed. This alliance has been integral in promoting our goal of zero-emission mobility in the City of Angels by facilitating greater access to infrastructure.

Addressing Pain Points in Creating EV Infrastructure

A recent GovTech.com article titled “How Biden Plans to Build 500 EV Charging Stations” discusses the President’s goals for creating a nationwide network of 500,000 such installations by 2030. While it does a smart job laying out many of the pain points we face in facilitating EV adoption, the mention of solutions was far less prevalent, and ones that were mentioned seemed speculative or tenuous. However, over the last three years, EVCS has already taken the lead in addressing many of these challenge areas, allowing us to dominate the installation market across the West Coast.

Spectrum News: SoCal Company Looks to Meet Growing Need for EV Charging Stations

Recently, our CEO and co-founder, Gustavo Occhiuzzo, was featured in a Spectrum News 1 segment titled “Inside the Issues” with Alex Cohen. He was able to not only convey the challenges we face as we work toward a more electric future, but also the strides EVCS has already made in addressing those challenges as well as some of our most significant achievements. Examples include our deal with LADOT to install DC fast chargers at 57 city-owned lots, our doubling of non-Tesla chargers in LA since last year alone, and the fact that EVCS has become one of the largest and fastest growing installers of EV charging stations on the West Coast in less than three years. See the interview clip and accompanying article below to learn more.