Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) says it has now installed 4,827 Level 2 EV charging ports at customer sites across Northern and Central California since 2018.
Through its first EV charging infrastructure programme —EV Charge Network—PG&E partnered with businesses at 192 locations and with 11 EV charging companies throughout its service area including Bakersfield, Chico, Fresno, Grass Valley, Red Bluff and San Jose.
Through September, 2021, PG&E has enabled charging for 5.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to more than 1,400 traditional cars being taken off the road for a year.
Through the EV Charge Network programme, PG&E paid for and built electrical infrastructure from the electric grid to the parking space at each customer site. Additionally, PG&E offset a portion or all of the cost of the actual charger for all participating customers, based on the site and location.
With 39% of the new chargers, or 1,859 charging ports, located in disadvantaged communities, PG&E helped to bring EV charging options to customers who might not have had them before.
“PG&E’s programme has helped lead to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles for our residents here at Wolf Creek Lodge,” said Bob Miller, EV project lead at Wolf Creek Lodge, where PG&E installed 30 EV charging ports through the EV Charge Network programme.
“We are among those setting the pace in Grass Valley for electric vehicle use and the resulting reduction in carbon emissions.”
Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions in California, contributing around 40%. The State aims to have 100% of California sales of new passenger cars and trucks to be zero-emission by 2035.
Around 85% of the electricity PG&E delivers to customers is from greenhouse gas-free resources.
While EV adoption continues to grow in California, the lack of available places to charge remains one of the biggest barriers. PG&E’s EV Charge Network supports the adoption of EVs by increasing access to charging in locations where it has traditionally been limited and where cars often sit for longer periods of time, such workplaces, apartment buildings and condominiums.
“Expanding the use of electric vehicles is essential for California to achieve its bold climate and clean-air goals,” added PG&E customer care VP, Laurie Giammona.
“PG&E [brings] EV access to more customers through our first EV charging infrastructure programme and we will continue to be an active partner in helping make EVs an option for millions of Californians. Reducing vehicle emissions is good for our State and good for the environment.”
PG&E’s additional EV charging efforts:
- EV Fleet programme: Aims to install or rebate make-ready electrical infrastructure at 700 sites by 2024 to support the adoption of 6,500 medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles
- EV Fast Charge programme for public fast chargers: Complements State and privately funded initiatives and aims to install more than 50 plazas for DC fast charging in highway corridor and urban sites. Earlier this year, PG&E installed four fast chargers at its first site at 7-Eleven in West Sacramento, California
- Special rates, rebates and tools: PG&E has electric rate plans tailored for customers who drive EVs and offers tools such as PG&E’s EV Savings Calculator and Fleet Calculator (ev.pge.com and fleets.pge.com) to help customers understand costs when adopting an EV
https://www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/newsdetails/index.page?title=20211013_installing_nearly_5000_electric_vehicle_charging_ports_pge_drives_more_clean_transportation_access_across_northern_and_central_california