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.

With that, we’re proud to announce our featured site for February 2022: a brand-new, redesigned charger complete with iKahan digital billboards at the Sierra Commons Shopping Center in the city of Palmdale north of Los Angeles. The address is 39605 10th Street West, which can be found here at this link.

The lot is conveniently located just off the Antelope Valley Freeway, a major north-south corridor through Palmdale, in one of the city’s most popular shopping districts. Within walking distance, drivers will find the Palmdale Marketplace and Antelope Valley shopping malls; an Embassy Suites hotel; retail stores like Target, Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond; and countless eateries like Coffee Bean, Chili’s, Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Applebee’s. The area is a paradise for shoppers, which somehow feels appropriate as our first installation to feature targeted advertising content on a big, bold screen.

The charger eschews our old boxy design for a thinner, sleeker new look to accommodate the large auto-facing LCD monitor. The bright 55-inch display is engineered for outdoor usage and boasts a crisp 1920 x 1080 resolution, delivering high-def content that can be targeted hyper-locally to any segment of the market.

Our long-term goals here are three-fold. First, we’re facilitating the transition to this newly designed charger across more of our network. We’re already working to revitalize the EVCS owned original West Coast Electric Highway while simultaneously ramping up the installation of new chargers in highly trafficked areas where such advertising will have the greatest impact. Second, we’re expanding the number of reputable brands that are featuring content on our screens, with mega-brands like LA Fitness leading the charge. Third, we’re using this exciting new revenue stream as a selling point for site owners who may still be skeptical about installing chargers on their properties. For many, this offers the final nudge they need to say yes. Like we always say, “earn green by going green!”

To be certain, we’re not the only ones trumpeting the benefits of merging charging infrastructure with digital advertising. In an article titled “11 Reasons Why EV Charging and Digital Advertising is SMART Business for Shopping Centers and Parking Operators,” online publisher Ensto cited 800 studies by Nielsen that showed every dollar spent on digital advertising achieved a return on investment of three dollars. Moreover, the digital ad market was valued at 19.6 billion dollars in 2016, but based on current market trends, is projected to reach 32.8 billion by 2023. Coupled with what is certain to be explosive growth of EV charging this decade, we believe the untapped opportunities are myriad, and we plan on not only being there as things evolve, but leading the way. Our site at Sierra Commons is just the first small step of many.

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