Proposed project would bring faster EV charging to customers’ homes
Whether it’s grocery delivery straight to your door, an app to get your chores done, or online shopping from the comfort of your couch, convenience is king in today’s world. While convenience may reign supreme, at SDG&E we think it’s at its best when it’s combined with technology, innovation and customer solutions.
One way we’re working to bring convenience and innovation together in our region is through a proposed program that would deliver fast-charging Level 2 EV chargers straight to our customer’s front doors—or garages, more likely—helping to increase the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads and to decrease harmful emissions released into our environment.
From the comfort of your own home
For drivers of conventional fuel vehicles, seeing the light blink on as the gauge dips toward “E” isn’t a distressing event—the solution is nothing more than a short drive and a few minutes at the nearest gas station to refuel. But for the 24,000 EV drivers in the San Diego area, public charging stations aren’t as easy a find as gas stations, potentially creating “range anxiety” for EV drivers who need to recharge when their ride loses juice.
If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), our project would help alleviate that anxiety for current and prospective EV drivers by installing fast-charging stations in their homes, providing peace of mind they can reach about 80 percent of a full in under an hour—less than half the time it would take using a wall outlet or Level 1 charger.
Safety, savings and convenience
Working with skilled, experienced International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) contractors, SDG&E plans to install 90,000 Level 2 EV charging stations at single family homes, as well as multi-unit properties like condos, with at least 20 percent of installations in disadvantaged communities. Beyond simplifying life for current EV drivers, the project is designed to remove a potential concern that may be preventing some customers from making the jump to a clean-driving vehicle.
SDG&E will cover the cost of the charger and most, if not all, of the associated installation and maintenance fees. Customers that participate in the program will be enrolled in dynamic EV rate plan for the entire residence that keep fueling costs down by incentivizing charging when energy prices are low and help maintain reliability of the grid when renewable energy isn’t plentiful.
Seeing (and breathing) the results
If successfully implemented, it is estimated that the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1.3 million metric tons over its lifetime—the equivalent of the carbon removed by nearly 35 million trees growing for 10 years. The project’s potential reductions in harmful air emissions will not only help move California closer to achieving the state’s ambitious climate goals, but will also protect our environment for future generations.
This article is part of a series taking a closer look at seven projects proposed by SDG&E to increase access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure as we work to clean the air for a healthier tomorrow. Learn more about our plans to electrify transportation and clean our air, here.