Electrify America (Volkswagen) Deploys 30 Solar-Powered Charging Stations to Rural California

Electrify America, is a company born after the judgment of the American courts imposed on the Volkswagen Group as a result of the worldwide scandal known as «dieselgate«. Now what has ended up being one of the largest public ultra-fast charging networks in the United States, officially adds 30 solar-powered electric car charging stations.

The new charging points will have two Tier 2 chargers and will be installed in the state of California. The chargers will be totally independent of the electrical network and will be strategically located throughout the Central Valley and inland areas of Southern California.

The purpose of this initiative focuses on provide greater access to sustainable charging solutions for electric vehicles, for drivers in rural areas of the California state.

A project not replicated in Europe

Electrify America is investing $ 2 billion over a 10-year period in infrastructure, education, and access to zero-emission vehicles. Is investment is not being copied by the Volkswagen Group nor is it applied in Europe, with the consequences that this entails for the development of the new mobility.

As the project moves forward in the United States, enabling millions of people to discover the benefits of electric conduction and supporting the construction of a nationwide network of road, community and workplace chargers, in Europe all these benefits are at the expense of investments by third companies.

The only large-scale operators at the European level have as protagonists the slow expansion of Ionity or the extensive Tesla network that, in this case, is exclusive for your vehicles.

Americans are the the only manufacturer directly involved, first-hand, in the creation of a unified and powerful charging network in Europe.

It is enough to compare the figures from Ionity, the consortium to which Volkswagen belongs in Europe, with the figures from Electrify America who expect to install or have in development approximately 800 total charging stations, with around 3,500 DC fast chargers by December 2021.

Proof that a court decision can create an ecosystem that benefits society and the transformation of mobility.

Removing barriers

Electrify America’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure plans in California include a commitment to increasing access to electric car charging infrastructure in rural areas of the state.

With this I know They facilitate regional travel as the adoption of electric vehicles is promoted in rural communities.

The goal of offering a free, is to combat two of the biggest barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles in these places: access to public charge and making it economically affordable.

The network has ensured that more than half of these chargers were located in disadvantaged and low-income communities, demonstrating the company’s continued commitment to serving these populations.

Strategic locations

To Nina Huesgen, Senior Manager, Home and Ecommerce, Electrify America: «Electrify America’s mission is focused on increasing access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure to meet the different needs of drivers in a diverse set of communities and lifestyles.«.

Twenty of the 30 solar-powered charging stations are located in healthcare facilities. Thanks to the information provided by both public and private stakeholders, the recharging operator has identified the educational and healthcare institutions as ideal charging points due to high traffic and long hours of access.

The ARC TechnologyTM energy storage system that equips these charging stations, allows chargers operate at night, during bad weather, and in the event of a blackout or power outage.

Source | Electrify America

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