How EVCS is Addressing the Surging Demand for EVs

The EV world has much to celebrate this year. It seems we’ve reached a turning point. While the overall number of new vehicles sold in America between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022 slumped by 20%, EV sales during that same period jumped over 66%, according to figures released by Cox Automotive. This comes on the heels of a larger global trend, with worldwide EV shipments up 79% year over year.

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Total sales of all-electric vehicles in the US have steadily risen through 2022, even in the face of economic headwinds caused by inflation, chip shortages and other supply chain issues. Almost 159,000 BEVs were registered in Q1 2022, followed by almost 197,000 in Q2, per data from Experian and Kelley Blue Book. Experts expect to see this pattern continue when Q3 numbers are released.

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According to Senior Research Analyst Soumen Mandal, “The EV market is witnessing a boom. [Moreover], shipments would have been higher if the automotive supply chain was not affected by the Ukraine crisis and fresh COVID-19 waves in China.” He cites fierce competition by both new and existing players in the manufacturing world, leading to cutting-edge tech that has improved battery life, driving range and ADAS. As a result, Automotive News notes that Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and Volkswagen all had vehicles among the top 10 best-selling EVs as they ratchet up operations in a quest to rival Tesla’s dominance.

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The sales surge is likely due to a confluence of factors: the extended number of offerings from automakers, government subsidies, new legislation that phases out ICEs, high gas prices and the steady expansion of charging infrastructure. Whatever the ultimate causes though, Americans have begun embracing electric as an efficient, cost-effective alternative to environmentally harmful fossil fuels, particularly in the mobility space, resulting in a BEV market share of 4.6% nationwide – a new record.

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The writing is on the wall: America needs fast, convenient, reliable infrastructure to power the rapidly growing BEV segment. Fortunately, EVCS has been shoring up its network for the coming onslaught as we plan to more than double our network by the end of 2023. We recently raised almost $69 million to further our expansion into over 60 new West Coast cities while simultaneously increasing charger density in cities where we have existing infrastructure.

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We currently have 672 total chargers (241 of which are DCFCs) at 149 locations from Orange County, California to Custer, Washington near the Canadian border. In addition, these stations have been strategically positioned along prime travel routes and at key points of interest to accommodate cars and drivers of all types, from rural residents to urban dwellers; from Teslas to Bolts to Mustang Mach-Es; suitable for a quick jaunt to the grocery store or an interstate vacation. And our network only keeps growing as we continue to lead the West Coast in new installations.

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Our easy-to-use mobile app and industry-disrupting subscription model have also made it simpler for EV owners to power up while saving them hundreds or even thousands of dollars over pay-per-charge and gas alternatives. Our user interface features a cost comparison calculator that lets consumers quickly gauge the potential savings of a subscription; a find-a-charger function searchable by street, city or zip; and access to round-the-clock customer support to ensure a seamless charging experience.

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What’s more, as the number of EVs on the road increases, so will the number of drivers with varying schedules, budgets and other needs. That’s why we recently expanded our subscription options to include the following: 1) the Standard Anytime plan for $49.99 per month, providing up to 200 kWh of DC fast charging and a low flat rate of $.29/kWh after the cap is exceeded; 2) the Unlimited Off-Peak Pro plan for $99.99 a month, which offers unlimited fast charging between 10pm and 6am with a flat rate of $.29/kWh at all other times; and 3) the Unlimited Anytime Pro plan for $199.99 a month, with access to unlimited fast charging 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Bottom line – investment, innovation and persistence of vision is not only necessary in driving the manufacturing of new electric vehicles that appeal to the public, but also the infrastructure that powers them, and that is where EVCS is leading the way.

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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.

How the Ukrainian Crisis Could Affect the EV Market

As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, concerns over how a prolonged incursion may affect global markets has become a frequent topic of discussion, even as major world powers issue a raft of sanctions against Russia in an effort to end the conflict sooner. There are certain to be ramifications for the EV industry specifically as a consequence of the dispute, some of which we’re already starting to see, although their duration and severity are still in question. Here are some of the most prominent.

How EVCS is Helping Change America’s EV Charging Experience

As most of us know, Congress recently approved $7.5 billion in spending for new EV charging installations as part of the larger infrastructure bill, which we expect will help facilitate a speedier transition away from fossil fuels. Even with EV sales increasing in recent years, reports suggest that 25 percent of all carbon emissions still come from the tailpipe, so anything the government can do to kick things up a notch is surely welcome. However, even with such a sizable investment, many challenges still exist that network operators like EVCS will have to help overcome. In a recent article on TheVerge.com, several prescient examples were cited of core areas to focus on if we want to make mass EV adoption a reality. Below are a few such areas and how EVCS is addressing them.

Installation of the Month (February 2022): Sierra Commons Shopping Plaza

The next stage in the evolution of EV charging will be a network operator’s ability to target consumers with advertising and media content pertinent to their demographic. Our recent partnership with minority-owned iKahan Media has afforded us just that opportunity, allowing for the expansion and creation of “a digital billboard network combining EVCS chargers with state-of-the-art LED screens,” as reported last year in a release on PR Newswire. (You can read that entire piece here) Such an initiative is intended to improve the economics of public charging by generating an additional revenue stream for both us and site hosts, providing advertisers with a select new platform for reaching consumers, and increasing value for EV drivers who want to see content that’s relevant to them.

The Key to Becoming Carbon Negative

We hear a lot about the desire for carbon neutrality these days, and while that’s noble indeed, we at EVCS have set our sights on even loftier goals. Our mission is to become carbon negative, meaning not only have we reduced carbon emissions to negligible levels, but we have offset more carbon than we contribute to the environment through techniques like avoidance, sequestration and carbon capture.