Installation of the Month (March 2021): The Elysian

EVCS continues to put charging stations in the ground at a record-setting pace, further proving that the notion of responsible mobility is gaining momentum with SoCal motorists. We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve been able to do over the past couple years, which has simultaneously benefitted countless individuals (with cheaper modes of transport), businesses (with new revenue models), and the environment (with cleaner air quality). Moreover, many of our newer sites are residential buildings, making EV ownership more of a practical reality for tens of thousands of Californians who have otherwise been apprehensive about cutting the cord with ICE vehicles.

As such, our featured site for March is The Elysian apartment building, a mid-century architectural marvel located in LA’s scenic Victoria Heights neighborhood at 1115 W. Sunset Blvd. See it here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Elysian/@34.067081,-118.249001,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x3bc0c1003adbe337!8m2!3d34.067081!4d-118.249001

The steel, glass and concrete edifice was originally designed in the early 1960’s by globally renowned architect William Pereira (also famous for the TransAmerica Building in San Francisco), and was deemed an “essential structure” at the time by LA city planners. By 1973, the eight-story tower was completed, and for another 20 years faithfully served as the Metropolitan Water District Headquarters. In 2011, the property was purchased by Linear City Development and converted into the 96 luxuriously appointed residential units we see today. What makes The Elysian extra special is not just its historic pedigree, but its sweeping views thanks to a prime perch overlooking Sunset Boulevard and its close proximity to key points of interest like Chinatown, Echo Park and the 101/110 interchange. See more about the property here:

http://theelysian.la/

We’ve long recognized that one of the greatest barriers to wider EV expansion in the marketplace is the lack of available charging options at residential complexes. This is especially poignant considering a 2019 survey by The Drive that found more than half of all EV drivers prefer to charge up at home. So, when Linear City entrusted us to source and install chargers at this iconic property, we were both thrilled and humbled at the chance to broaden our footprint in an area that has already been vocal in demanding environmentally friendly lifestyle solutions. Our final installation included 46 Blink Level II stations, which are available to both residents and the public. We then increased the project’s financial viability by covering all of Blink’s networking fees, leaving the site host with only the comparatively minor cost of the electricity. We also installed three BTC DC fast charging stations specifically for public consumption.

Linear City Operations VP Alexandra Leekley is on record stating that she and her team are eager to offer free EV charging as a standard amenity for all residents, just like use of the fitness center, yoga deck or common area Wi-Fi. This is a powerful gauntlet being thrown at the feet of residential real estate developers across the Southland. Moreover, as we launch our own subscription plan for EV drivers, we see the public component as equally important, luring Uber, Lyft, delivery and rental car drivers who need a place to charge that’s convenient to downtown. The subscription service will be easy to use and offers tremendous value, likely reducing the average motorist’s fuel bill by as much as 90% — from about $500 per month to $50.

We want to thank The Elysian for being a trailblazer in the fight for a cleaner, greener, more sustainable future by helping to make EV ownership a practical reality for all its residents, and we sincerely hope that this property can exemplify the fact that living (and driving) responsibly starts at home.

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“Who’s Saving the Planet?” Podcast Interviews Gustavo Occhiuzzo

EVCS co-founder and CEO Gustavo Occhiuzzo recently spoke on the “Who’s Saving the Planet?” podcast about the electric mobility revolution and what we as a company are doing to help realize a truly carbon-neutral future. During the conversation with hosts Anthony Noto and Jessica Miles, Occhiuzzo made several critical points that help listeners understand where we are now in that mission, the obstacles we face, what EVCS has done to overcome those obstacles, and what we can do better as a global community. Here are some of the most prescient points:

Installation of the Month (June 2021): Hyatt Place Riverside/Downtown

The ability to travel is something many of us take for granted. Our Interstate Highway System allows us to freely traverse state boundaries – to go wherever we choose whenever we choose – from the snow-capped Colorado Rockies to the soupy Everglade swamplands to the historic lighthouses of coastal New England. However, EV drivers are more acutely aware of their travel limitations because many areas of the country have yet to adopt pro-electric infrastructure policies, often leaving them with few ground-travel options other than ICE vehicles. We knew getting more Americans to embrace the electric revolution would require buy-in from the hospitality industry. As such, much of our focus has gone toward hotels that, by serving as site hosts for charging stations, can help kickstart that ubiquitous access required to convert many EV holdouts.

Wall Street Journal Piece Brings Up Questions… And We Answer

Stephen Wilmot’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Investors Look for an EV Charge,” debates the merits of investing in EV infrastructure, admitting that while chargers likely make for better investments than cars, the sector still holds many potential pitfalls that should be considered before jumping in. While that may be true, many of the examples backing up this assertion cite the business models of the largest EV installers in the country while failing to consider what less visible but faster-growing companies like EVCS are doing to mitigate such risks. Below are a few quotes from the article and our thoughts on them, including how we’re different.

Commentary on EV Industry Profitability Claims

In a recent Driving.ca article titled “EV-Charging Industry is Doing Everything Except Making Money,” author David R. Baker makes a compelling argument that the EV infrastructure sector is a revenue desert, essentially incapable of generating enough cash flow to sustain profitability due to a lack of interest from motorists. “The dilemma boils down to demand,” he states, before adding that “lots of people still driving gasoline-powered cars won’t consider going electric until they see charging stations widely deployed.”

Installation of the Month (May 2021): LADOT Lot 656

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) notes on its website that ICE vehicles are one of the city’s top contributors to air pollution, accounting for 19% of all greenhouse gas emissions, before proclaiming, “We can do better… We’re investing in public transit, testing new technology, and adopting mobility innovations for a cleaner environment and brighter future.” At first, it might just sound like flowery rhetoric, but we can personally attest to that commitment. Starting in 2019, LADOT partnered with us to install DCFCs at 57 city-owned lots, with almost 30% of those installations now completed. This alliance has been integral in promoting our goal of zero-emission mobility in the City of Angels by facilitating greater access to infrastructure.