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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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.

Addressing Pain Points in Creating EV Infrastructure

A recent GovTech.com article titled “How Biden Plans to Build 500 EV Charging Stations” discusses the President’s goals for creating a nationwide network of 500,000 such installations by 2030. While it does a smart job laying out many of the pain points we face in facilitating EV adoption, the mention of solutions was far less prevalent, and ones that were mentioned seemed speculative or tenuous. However, over the last three years, EVCS has already taken the lead in addressing many of these challenge areas, allowing us to dominate the installation market across the West Coast.