Electrify America details plan to invest $200 million more in EVSE, ports and EV education

Electrify America has committed to invest $800 million in EVSE and education programs in California, in four cycles over 10 years. Now the company has unveiled Cycle 3 of its California ZEV Investment Plan, which will invest another $200 million over the next 30 months.

Building on its experience deploying EV infrastructure in California over the last five years, Electrify America will spread the $200 million among three main categories: Infrastructure; Public Education, Awareness, Access & Marketing; and Green Cities. The company will strive to ensure that 35 percent of the investment is in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

“This added investment will provide equitable access to expanded EV infrastructure, technology and services for communities across California, further supporting an electric mobility revolution across all regions of the state,” said Electrify America CEO Giovanni Palazzo.

One key part of the California plan is the $25-million investment in a Green City program in the Long Beach-Wilmington community. The area is home to the nation’s busiest port complex, which is served by a fleet of more than 18,000 drayage trucks. Building on EA’s existing Green City program in Sacramento, the company will work with city officials and fleet operators to implement projects focused on charging transit and heavy-duty EVs, showcasing ultra-fast charging technology, energy storage, renewable generation and energy management.

“Supporting charging infrastructure and innovative technology for large battery-powered trucks, business fleets and cargo shipping is the next frontier in truly advancing electric transportation,” said Palazzo. “Investing in the Los Angeles area will set the stage for a future of e-mobility that will reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for local workers and residents.”

The focus of EVSE investment will be on building strategically-placed charging stations in many of Electrify America’s existing metro areas. DC fast charging stations will be placed in retail locations, but will also consider the needs of adjacent multi-unit dwellings, where Level 2 residential charging deployment is often challenging.

Electrify America will also invest in five new metro areas: Bakersfield; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara; Stockton and Visalia.

Focus areas for the new cycle of investment include:

• Expanding the network of highway fast charging stations, featuring charging power up to 350 kilowatts.
• Deploying infrastructure to support transit and medium-duty/heavy-duty fleet charging.
• Development of new tools and techniques, such as site-level energy management and energy modeling, to drive down both capital and operating costs.
• Renewable generation for select stations as site-level energy management tools to help to reduce station operating costs and reduce carbon consumption.
• Brand-neutral education and awareness, including educational marketing, ride-and-drives, and direct-to-consumer messaging through social media.
• Supporting ZEV education and training efforts of other local organizations such as Veloz, EV Noire, Plug In America and the LA Cleantech Incubator.

Source: Electrify America