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.

Photo Courtesy of The Conmunity – Pop Culture Geek

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That is why, this month, we’re featuring the world-famous Hollywood & Highland complex, located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood, California. See it here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hollywood+%26+Highland/@34.1023194,-118.3399992,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xe9c39639f7356912?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHwICB0NHuAhUDZN8KHe5GBQcQ_BIwH3oECEUQBQ

The 387,000-square-foot property opened in November of 2001, quickly cementing its reputation as a shopping, dining and entertainment mecca for tourists the world over. Resting on the bones of the old historic Hollywood Hotel, the complex boasts more than 60 stores and restaurants plus the palatial Dolby Theatre, home of the annual Oscar telecast. First-time visitors often find themselves marveling at the magnificent four-story courtyard in the center, inspired by the Babylon Court set from the classic D.W. Griffith film Intolerance, and relishing in its close proximity to other nearby attractions like the Walk of Fame, Madame Tussauds and the Mann’s (now TCL) Chinese Theater. See more about the property here:

https://hollywoodandhighland.com/

According to commercial real estate firm JLL, Hollywood & Highland attracts 25 million visitors per year (about 5,000 every hour) and features 3,000 parking spaces (the most in the city). When the property’s management hired us to install three new 50 kWh DC fast chargers in their cavernous underground parking structure, of course we jumped at the chance. With so many visitors, the demand for an EV charging solution was growing and management took notice. The benefits included catering to a community already steeped in perpetuating environmentally friendly transportation solutions while also attracting new visitors with EVs who may have otherwise taken their retail or dining business elsewhere.

Moreover, case studies have shown that the average EV driver’s overall dwell time at commercial properties with charging stations is typically longer than that of the average customer since EV drivers shop at a more leisurely pace while waiting for their batteries to recharge. For instance, one large-scale discount retailer reported an EV driver’s average visit lasted 50 minutes longer than the overall average – an increase of 327%. And since customers spent an average of $1 per minute during their dwell time, the revenue increase of $56,000 over a nine-month period was more than sufficient to eclipse the scant $430 in extra charges the company spent on its electric bill. We expect, as time goes on, that Hollywood & Highland will note similar economic benefits and can serve as a torchbearer for comparable commercial properties considering EV infrastructure.

All that said, we’d like to give thanks to our highly valued customer, Hollywood & Highland, for trusting in us to install their charging stations and for helping advance the idea that an electric-powered future is not just fodder for the movies, but an achievable reality!

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Installation of the Month (April 2021): Hilton Hotel & Plaza San Gabriel

Hilton is one of the most recognizable and respected organizations in the world. They own 18 different brands and more than 6,400 properties in 119 countries. Since 1925, they’ve been a model of the hospitality industry – synonymous with customer relations, integrity and innovation, which extends into areas like sustainability and the environment. Their website’s “Corporate Responsibility” page cites a commitment to fighting climate change, stating: “We seek to operate and grow sustainably, reducing our consumption of natural resources… We are proud to have set carbon reduction targets aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement.” And they continue to back up this commitment, including recently asking us to install EV charging banks at one of their key Los Angeles locations.

Analysis of Biden’s Infrastructure Plan

President Biden finally held his first official press conference last Thursday, March 25th, wherein he addressed his $2.2 trillion infrastructure bill, albeit from a high level that was light on details. What we do know is that the legislation will include $174 billion dedicated specifically to incentivizing EV manufacturing, the building of charging networks, tax credits for EV purchasers, and the development of alternative fuel technologies. The goal, Biden says, is to have a minimum of 500,000 EV charging stations installed across the country by 2030.

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.