Looking for a way to do your part in the fight against climate change? Imagine a future where hitting “request” in an app or hopping in a taxi means hitching a ride powered by sunshine—a ride that helps protect our environment and move California closer to reaching our ambitious climate goals.
This is exactly what we at SDG&E are aiming to accomplish through a proposed project to build charging stations and create incentives to encourage taxi, shuttle and rideshare companies to add clean-driving electric vehicles (EVs) to their fleets.
Building our Cleaner Tomorrow
In San Diego County, light-duty cars and trucks account for approximately 80 percent of combined on-road and off-road greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With tens of thousands of taxi, shuttle and rideshare drivers serving the area, electrification of these driving populations would result in massive reductions in emissions.
If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), SDG&E will build five charging facilities, each equipped with three chargers, at locations frequently used by taxi, shuttle and rideshare drivers, like the San Diego Airport, Gaslamp Quarter, or San Diego State University. As proposed, charging stations will give drivers the option of using standard Level 2 chargers or DC Fast Chargers, which are able to provide about 80 percent of a full charge in under an hour.
Successful implementation of the project is projected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons—the equivalent of the carbon removed by more than 311,000 trees growing for 10 years!
By adding more EVs to these fleets, riders and drivers throughout the region will have the chance to experience more of the clean-driving models available to them and see their benefits in action. SDG&E will also offer special dynamic rates to reduce fueling costs for participants and provide limited financial incentives to encourage companies and drivers to buy or lease EVs.
It Takes a Village
Inspiring the widespread adoption of EVs is not something that we can achieve on our own.
This article is the first in 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.