Installation of the Month (July 2021): LADOT Lot 657

One of our main goals has been to install charging infrastructure in underserved communities, especially urban population centers that are key to our mission of wider EV adoption. Los Angeles is rife with such neighborhoods, where low-income families who wish to participate in the greening of society cry out for cost-effective ways to be part of the solution. Lincoln Heights, one of the oldest sections of the city, is a prime example. The densely populated area boasts numerous Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander groups who have expressed interest in electric mobility, but historically lacked access to the requisite charging stations. Moreover, with a median age of just 24, Lincoln Heights is brimming with younger generation Angelenos who have already embraced the idea of sustainability, but simply need the opportunity to take action.

All that said, we’re very proud to announce that, just last month, we commissioned a brand-new site with four DC fast chargers at LA city lot #657 in Lincoln Heights. So proud, in fact, that we decide to make it our featured site for July. The address is 221 Avenue 22, which can be found here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/221+S+Ave+22,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90031/@34.0730115,-118.2199383,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c67d322474e3:0xd7476cf12771d346!8m2!3d34.0730115!4d-118.2177496

The lot is conveniently situated just off the I-5 freeway near North Broadway, with dozens of cafes, restaurants, ATMs, drug stores and retail shops in walking distance for area residents to patronage while they juice their batteries. Moreover, the neighborhood is peppered with historical landmarks that will attract non-residents, from the Los Angeles Alligator Farm to the San Antonio Winery to the famed Church of the Epiphany – the oldest operating Episcopal church in the city where Cesar Chavez gave speeches. The lot itself is owned, controlled and maintained by the LA Department of Transportation. More about their parking facilities and green initiatives can be found on their website here:

https://ladot.lacity.org/projects/parking-la

At Lot 657, our Slim Line DCFCs have 50kW power ratings, combo CHAdeMO and CCS1 connectors, integrated cord retractors, 15-inch outdoor color monitor displays and a maximum DC current output of 125 amps. The better than 90% efficiency rating will have a standard EV battery powered to 80% in just 60 minutes, while the OCPP network-enabled payment system allows for both credit cards and RFID. In other words, Lincoln Heights community members are getting access to the same high-quality chargers that are found in more affluent areas of LA.

Our goals and actions have aligned closely with state lawmakers and private grant programs that stress the need for more equitable distribution of infrastructure. California State Senate Bill 535 and State Assembly Bill 1550 were enacted to address equity concerns around EV adoption by creating a “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.” According to ScienceDirect, both bills “mandate that at least 25% of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has to fund state programs that seek to reduce GHG emissions in disadvantaged communities (i.e., communities exposed to a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens).” In addition, the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CaleVIP) supports a number of EV infrastructure projects, requiring at least a 25% minimum spend in such areas.

With EVCS working alongside state and local government officials, utility companies and private organizations, we are able to maximize our impact in areas that sorely need our help. We can do our part to make sure more citizens of LA can go green without being in the red. Accessibility is only one key component though; visibility is just as critical. As EV adoption takes hold in these communities, more ICE vehicle owners will see the viability of going electric. They will start to shed their reticence and embrace the revolution. Lot 657 is an important step toward this sea change, but just one of many to come.

‍

Back

Navigating California’s New EV Mandate

California’s going all in on electric. On August 25th, Governor Gavin Newsom made a very important announcement concerning the future of transportation in the Golden State: “We can solve this climate crisis if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to cut pollution. California now has a groundbreaking, world-leading plan to achieve 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035.” Big and bold, indeed. And while highly encouraging, it brings up a number of questions moving forward.

How EVCS is Repairing Reliability Concerns

One of the biggest concerns among EV drivers today is the reliability of public chargers. One recent survey from the Department of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley claims as many as 23% of public chargers in the Bay Area alone are, as Wired sums up, “nonfunctioning at any given time, stymied by broken screens, shoddy credit card or payment systems, network connection failures, or damaged plugs.” And that’s in a locale prioritizing the conversion to electric. Testimony from motorists seems to corroborate these findings. A CEC survey of 1,290 EV drivers found that fully 60% had experienced damaged or inoperable chargers, while almost half needed assistance from customer service. We find this wholly unacceptable and have taken measures to ensure that chargers in the EVCS network rise to the standard of operability our customers expect. Here are a few ways we’re doing that:

Installation of the Month (July 2022): Kenwood Inn & Spa

A key focus for us over the last several years has been the installation of additional chargers at holiday hot spots, tourist destinations, and other key points of interest. Not only will it help dispel long-range travel anxiety among many new EV drivers, but it will also lead to a significant reduction in carbon emissions otherwise generated by gas-guzzlers during peak vacation seasons. Moreover, our egalitarian approach to site selection means we’re just as likely to install a charger at a McDonald’s as we are at a Morton’s since we understand the value in catering to a broad clientele. However, higher net worth individuals continue to drive EV sales in the US (a June 2021 Fuels Institute study specifies middle-aged males with household incomes over $100,000), so catering to venues that offer a luxury experience will encourage even greater participation by this group while serving as a bellwether for lower-income drivers who are attracted to the idea of electric mobility as a symbol of status.

Mexico to Canada EV Road Trip: EVCS Interview

We sat down with EV owner and enthusiast Anthony Williams, a 60-year-old business owner from San Diego, who recently commemorated the 10-year anniversary of his first trans-American road trip in an EV by retracing the same route to see what had changed in the world of EV fast charging, for better or for worse. Below are some of his insights and feedback.

Installation of the Month (June 2022): KPC Anaheim Global Medical Center

“For us, healthcare is not only about caring for our patients, but also about investing in the people who live in our communities.” These are the words emblazoned across the home page of the KPC Anaheim Global Medical Center’s website. Facilities like these are attractive partners for us because, like us, their goal is the betterment of humanity. In fact, just replace “healthcare” with “electric mobility” and “patients” with “planet,” and you have the EVCS mission statement in a nutshell. Allying with kindred spirits creates a natural synergy for us through the sharing of core values like customer service and an improved quality of life. Imagine then our excitement when KPC decided to install four of our newest DC fast chargers on their Anaheim property, giving us the opportunity to continue expanding our network southward.