Electrify America released its 2018 National and California Annual Reports highlighting progress on its charging network and education and awareness campaigns to help increase the adoption of zero emission vehicle (ZEV) transportation options.
The Annual Reports also demonstrate tremendous progress with workplace and multiunit dwelling charging station deployment, and the launching of Green City programs in Sacramento.
“In 2018, Electrify America has laid a solid foundation for our national network of ultra-fast charging stations, and we are also implementing a robust education and awareness strategy to promote the adoption of ZEV transportation in the United States and California,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and CEO of Electrify America. “Our team installed and opened more than 60 public charging stations in a matter of months in 2018. Today, we are opening ultra-fast charging stations at an unprecedented pace, with more than 150 locations available to the public. Electrify America is committed to helping create an EV charging network the public can rely on when they choose electric vehicles for their daily transportation needs.”
The company outlined major milestones in the 2018 annual reports including:
- Opening the first 350kW charging station in U.S. (Chicopee, MA) and the first in California (Livermore, CA) with the capability to recharge a vehicle at 20 miles of range per minute; Commissioning 63 DC fast charging (DCFC) station sites in the U.S. and California
- Electrify America’s DC fast charger became the first charging system featuring 350 kW charging technology and liquid-cooled cables certified to UL standards, and this charging system received “2018 Best of What’s New” honors from Popular Science Magazine
- Secured agreements to host DC fast charging stations on Electrify America’s network at 449 sites nationwide (322 Nationally, 127 in California)
- Launched a brand-neutral national TV, radio and digital audio advertising campaign using musical soundtracks from the Jetsons and Flintstones to help promote electric vehicles (EV) with a tagline message “Electric for All”
- Held more than a dozen “Discover and Drive” programs in California to share the benefits and performance of owning an zero emission vehicle
- Announced and began operations of a Green City initiative in Sacramento, CA a $44 million investment, called “Sac-to-Zero” featuring EV car sharing, electric bus and on-demand shuttle transportation and the development of DC fast charging at 13 station sites;
- Negotiated and announced three EV agreements for charging interoperability to expand Electrify America’s charging availability through an interconnected network of approximately 12,500 chargers with EV Connect, SemaConnect and Greenlots
- Electrify America secured 327 workplaces and multiunit dwellings to host Level 2 chargers, and construction is underway
In California, Electrify America is striving to ensure 35 percent of its investments are in disadvantaged and low-income community (DAC/LIC) areas.
The Annual Report provides a comprehensive outline of these efforts, including, but not limited to:
- Demonstrating that more than 35 percent of both public DCFC stations and L2 Workplace/MUD stations are in DAC/LIC communities at every stage of development;
- More than 35 percent of the media spend is on cable targeted into specific, reported DAC/LIC zip codes, while also running Spanish radio advertisements in DAC/LIC communities;
- Commissioned six community-based organizations (CBOs) to implement education and awareness projects exclusively in DAC/LIC communities through a $2.7 million commitment;
- Nine of 12 “Drive and Discover” events were in DAC/LIC communities, and 54 percent of participants reported low-incomes by CA definitions; and
- In the “Sac-to-Zero” programs in Sacramento, 75 percent of Envoy car sharing site hosts are in DAC/LIC, 84 percent of the served census tracts for the EV on-demand shuttle service in the Franklin Blvd home zone are DAC/LIC, and 67 percent of the served census tracts in the GIG car sharing home zone are LIC/DAC. Finally, the electric bus initiative between Davis and Sacramento is public transit.
