Investments in Charging Infrastructure Will Grow Electric Vehicles Adoption for America
On July 21, the White House launched an array of initiatives to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in America. These efforts include unlocking up to $4.5 billion in loan guarantees for installing new charging infrastructure, promoting new battery and fast charger technology to lead the industry forward, and encouraging local, state and federal governments to purchase electric vehicles as part of their fleets. The overall goal of this effort is to deploy a modern and comprehensive electric vehicle charging network in order to switch the nation from using gas-powered vehicles to driving clean EVs.
The White House also launched a new coalition between public and private sectors to help achieve these goals. Nearly 50 vehicle manufacturers, electric utilities, charging companies and state governments signed up for this new coalition, which will work to increase access to charging and make it easier for people to charge their cars. Partnership like this will be crucial, not only to inspire people to make the switch to EVs, but also spread transportation electrification into other sectors of the economy, such as fleets, transit and the nation’s ports. This is important across America, and particularly here in Southern California since approximately 54 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector.
Building America’s Electric Transportation Future
The White House praised several energy companies for joining the coalition and installing charging infrastructure in their areas. Already a national leader in this sector, San Diego Gas & Electric(SDG&E) was highlighted for rising to this challenge early on and launching one of the largest charging infrastructure projects in the nation: the innovative “Power Your Drive” program.
And, while many companies pledged to expand workplace charging to spur EV adoption, SDG&E in 2013 was one of the first to commit to this and today has installed 181 workplace charging stations, more than any other organization in San Diego. The company also boasts 271 employees driving EVs—which is more than halfway to the goal of 500 drivers by 2020.
In addition to employee EV adoption, the company’s passenger fleet is being transformed, and SDG&E is aiming to expand into new areas of electric work trucks and bucket trucks, with the goal of converting 22 percent of its total fleet to alternative fuel vehicles by 2020.