One of our main goals has been to install charging infrastructure in underserved communities, especially urban population centers that are key to our mission of wider EV adoption. Los Angeles is rife with such neighborhoods, where low-income families who wish to participate in the greening of society cry out for cost-effective ways to be part of the solution. Lincoln Heights, one of the oldest sections of the city, is a prime example. The densely populated area boasts numerous Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander groups who have expressed interest in electric mobility, but historically lacked access to the requisite charging stations. Moreover, with a median age of just 24, Lincoln Heights is brimming with younger generation Angelenos who have already embraced the idea of sustainability, but simply need the opportunity to take action.

All that said, we’re very proud to announce that, just last month, we commissioned a brand-new site with four DC fast chargers at LA city lot #657 in Lincoln Heights. So proud, in fact, that we decide to make it our featured site for July. The address is 221 Avenue 22, which can be found here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/221+S+Ave+22,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90031/@34.0730115,-118.2199383,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x80c2c67d322474e3:0xd7476cf12771d346!8m2!3d34.0730115!4d-118.2177496

The lot is conveniently situated just off the I-5 freeway near North Broadway, with dozens of cafes, restaurants, ATMs, drug stores and retail shops in walking distance for area residents to patronage while they juice their batteries. Moreover, the neighborhood is peppered with historical landmarks that will attract non-residents, from the Los Angeles Alligator Farm to the San Antonio Winery to the famed Church of the Epiphany – the oldest operating Episcopal church in the city where Cesar Chavez gave speeches. The lot itself is owned, controlled and maintained by the LA Department of Transportation. More about their parking facilities and green initiatives can be found on their website here:

https://ladot.lacity.org/projects/parking-la

At Lot 657, our Slim Line DCFCs have 50kW power ratings, combo CHAdeMO and CCS1 connectors, integrated cord retractors, 15-inch outdoor color monitor displays and a maximum DC current output of 125 amps. The better than 90% efficiency rating will have a standard EV battery powered to 80% in just 60 minutes, while the OCPP network-enabled payment system allows for both credit cards and RFID. In other words, Lincoln Heights community members are getting access to the same high-quality chargers that are found in more affluent areas of LA.

Our goals and actions have aligned closely with state lawmakers and private grant programs that stress the need for more equitable distribution of infrastructure. California State Senate Bill 535 and State Assembly Bill 1550 were enacted to address equity concerns around EV adoption by creating a “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.” According to ScienceDirect, both bills “mandate that at least 25% of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund has to fund state programs that seek to reduce GHG emissions in disadvantaged communities (i.e., communities exposed to a combination of economic, health, and environmental burdens).” In addition, the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CaleVIP) supports a number of EV infrastructure projects, requiring at least a 25% minimum spend in such areas.

With EVCS working alongside state and local government officials, utility companies and private organizations, we are able to maximize our impact in areas that sorely need our help. We can do our part to make sure more citizens of LA can go green without being in the red. Accessibility is only one key component though; visibility is just as critical. As EV adoption takes hold in these communities, more ICE vehicle owners will see the viability of going electric. They will start to shed their reticence and embrace the revolution. Lot 657 is an important step toward this sea change, but just one of many to come.

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