POP QUIZ: How much do you know about EV infrastructure?

With so much misinformation out there about EVs and the infrastructure that supports them, we thought we might try something different: a little multiple-choice quiz to test your knowledge on the subject. Some of the answers might prove surprising.

(1) The number of electric vehicles per charging station in the United States is:

(a) 225
(b) 140
(c) 63
(d) 16

Answer: (d)

According to research done by EVAdoption.com, there are just 16 EVs for every charging station in the country versus 225 ICE vehicles for every gas pump. This means far greater accessibility for EV drivers, which destroys the myth that lack of available infrastructure is hampering mobility. Moreover, companies like EVCS are putting a record number of chargers in the ground to accommodate the surge in EV purchases.

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(2) Since electric grids are powered by fossil fuels, EVs are no better for the environment than ICE vehicles.

(a) True
(b) False

Answer: (b)

While it’s true that most grids are powered by oil and coal, those emissions are far offset by the vehicles themselves. According to the EPA, the average gas-powered passenger vehicle emits 411 grams of CO2 per mile, while plug-in hybrids bring that figure down to 275 grams per mile. Factoring in grid emissions, a ZEV is just 200 grams per mile, over half that of gas guzzlers. And EVCS has gone a step further in its goal to go carbon negative by buying 100% of its electricity from renewable energy producers that offset power generated locally by fossil fuels.

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(3) The average cost that EVCS charges a site host to install a four-bank charging station is:

(c) $600,000
(d) $420,000
(e) $75,000
(f) $0

Answer: (d)

EVCS offers a hassle-free turnkey solution to property owners interested in hosting EV charging infrastructure. Our expertise lies in accessing federal, state and local green energy grants that reduce installation costs to zero for most site hosts while simultaneously offering them a reliable new revenue
stream. We manage the project from start to finish, handling site assessments, permitting, trenching, backfilling, charger procurement, installation, networking software, even repairs and maintenance.

(4) As of 2020, the largest export from the state of California is electric vehicles.

(a) True
(b) False

Answer: (a)

California is by far the country’s largest state economy, and according to the US Census Bureau’s latest report on foreign trade, it exports more EVs than any other product (including aircraft and almonds), with a value of $5.65 billion. Naysayers that claim EVs are just a trend ignore the fact that California alone has 34 EV manufacturers, and that state and federal funding legislation are feeding off EV demand that has companies like EVCS busy installing infrastructure for the next decade. Furthermore, the export figure shows this demand is not just limited to the Golden State.

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(5) An EVCS Level 3 fast charger can charge an EV battery to 80% in as quick as:

(a) 2 hours
(b) 1 hour
(c) 20 minutes
(d) None of the above

Answer: (c)

Our DCFCs have outputs of 50 kWs and above, meaning an 80% charge in as little as 20 minutes – about the time it takes to have a cappuccino or do a quick grocery run. This gives the average EV over 100 miles of range. The 80% figure roughly represents the total usable energy capacity in a lithium-ion battery and is more than sufficient for everyday driving. If it’s good enough for your phone, it’s good enough for your car.

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(6) EVCS offers pricing solutions that significantly reduce the cost of fast charging.

(a) True
(b) False

Answer: (a) True

EV drivers pay as much as $60 every time they charge up. But with the EVCS Unlimited Charging Plan, they can charge as much as they like for just $49.99 per month. In addition, the first 30 days are free. There’s no annual commitment, no hidden fees, and, of course, sizable savings over pay-as-you-go. And compared with current gas prices, savings are outright stratospheric.

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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.