Californians
are charged up about electric cars
! According to the Times of San Diego
, the sunshine state will be getting hundreds of new EV charging stations in under-serviced areas. The new charging station network will be coming via a partnership with California-based ChargePoint and Charge Across Town.
Read on with the car ownership experts at Jerry about what this new partnership means for California residents who own or are interested in owning an EV.
Are EVs inaccessible?
California is one of the most popular states for electric vehicles, but not all areas have equal amounts of service, and one of the most contentious counterpoints to driving an electric car is their lack of accessibility.
Millions of dollars have been invested in expanding charging networks across U.S. highways
, but it's not just a lack of charging stations along roadways and other high-traffic areas that gives people pause about adopting an electric car. Many who live in multifamily housing also lack access to a garage or designated parking spot that would allow them to easily charge their cars.
“One barrier to EV adoption is the inaccessibility to home charging, and lack of electric vehicle supply equipment infrastructure where it is needed most,” said the director at Charge Across Town Maureen Blanc, as reported by the Times of San Diego.
Initiatives that bring electric charging stations to more communities are a win for all. The new EV charging infrastructure will target multifamily properties such as apartment buildings and condo complexes across the entire state.
ChargePoint’s plan of action
ChargePoint has been awarded $4.25 million from the California Energy Commission’s Reliable, Equitable, and Accessible Charging for Multifamily Housing (REACH) program.
Through REACH, ChargePoint will partner with multifamily property owners and managers to install hundreds of charging ports.
At least 75% of the ports are reserved for buildings in underserved or low-income communities.
Charge Across Town also intends to collect ongoing feedback from building managers and residents once the chargers are installed.
“Working with ChargePoint in low-income and disadvantaged communities, we have the opportunity to educate both multifamily building owners and residents on how EV charging works, the affordability and benefits of going electric, and the many state and local incentives available to these communities,” said Blanc.
California is one of the most expensive states for gas. While some short-term proposals
have been made to help offset the cost of gas for low-income residents, making EVs more accessible for everyone can help keep costs down for Californians in the long term. What impact will the new charging stations have?
ChargePoint estimates that the new chargers could eliminate an estimated 1.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the next five years—that's the equivalent of planting over 18 million trees.
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