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.

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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.

Recap of “Today, Explained” Podcast: It’s Electric!

Recently, we listened to Vox’s Umair Irfan discuss on his Today, Explained podcast how Norway has been trailblazing in the world of electric mobility and what strides the US can make to follow suit. We not only found the episode a fascinating exploration of how our Scandinavian friends serve as both innovators and motivators, but it elucidated ways in which EVCS can and has been working toward similar goals within the US. Below are some of the key takeaways from the podcast as well as how it relates to what we’re doing here and now.

EVCS Fast Charging Network to Use 100% Renewable Energy (Newsire)

One of the most common criticisms foisted on the electric mobility industry is that EVs are not technically carbon neutral since the electricity needed to power them is generated through fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas. This argument is not without merit and presents those of us in the EV infrastructure sector with yet another lofty goal – true carbon neutrality through electrical grids powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar. And our most recent press release discusses how we at EVCS are doing just that.

EVCS Secures Credit Facility with Macquarie Group (Newswire)

We recently employed PR firm Firecracker to help us get the word out about all of the wonderful things EVCS is doing to make an all-electric future a reality. One major step toward this goal was our securing a credit facility that would allow for accelerated expansion of EV infrastructure, giving us confidence that the financial support required would be available when we needed it. Our PR team then went to work, drafting the following press release that outlines the particulars of this momentous achievement:

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.