Is Policy Action Alone Enough to Reach Net Zero by 2050?

Recently, BloombergNEF published a telling article titled, “Electric Vehicle Sales Set to Rise Faster Than Ever, but More Policy Action Needed to Get on Track for Net Zero.” The author raises many interesting observations about where we are now in the transition to electric mobility; where we’re projected to be in 10, 20 and even 30 years based on current trajectories; and what we need to do if we’re going to be net zero by 2050.

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Photo Courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

In short, the driving theme of the article seems to be that further government policies will be required to spur innovation, adoption and acceptance of EV technology. And while we certainly agree that this is a crucial factor, it fails to highlight the equal importance of private firms like EVCS to do the work once policies are in place since the government is not in the business of installing infrastructure.

Below are several salient points BNEF makes and how we’re helping to affect solutions in the space.

“Reaching net zero by mid-century will require all hands on deck, particularly for trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles where the transition has barely started.”

BNEF works feverishly to drive home the idea that commercial vehicles will be a key driver in the transition to electric. The author notes that two- and three-wheelers are already in heavy use throughout developing countries and that cars and light commercial vehicles are on a positive trajectory, but states, ominously, that “the outlook is far more problematic in the heavier commercial vehicle segments.” EVCS has started tackling the problem by targeting municipalities, large commercial businesses and fleet operators with increased marketing efforts, no-cost installation packages, subscription plans, and high-tech networking software featuring customized demand response and real-time performance monitoring.

“By 2040 the charging network needs to grow to over 309 million chargers across all locations… [including] public chargers (24 million), workplace chargers (12 million) and bus and truck chargers (4 million).”

We have been leading the way in the installation of new chargers across Southern California, installing more than half of all non-Tesla DCFCs in Los Angeles alone since 2020. Our site hosts have included government, retail, industrial, educational, workplace and multi-unit residential properties, many of which are hugely influential and committed to embracing electric. See a spattering of our clients here: https://evcs.com/customers/prominent-clients. In addition, we have consistently lobbied for greater subsidization of the EV industry on local, state and federal levels as we strategize our expansion into other areas of the country. Our know-how and experience will make EVCS a key asset in executing once government policy directives are in place.

“Most of the extra demand for electricity globally in the decades ahead will be met by building additional renewable energy capacity, according to BNEF forecasts.”

Our insistence on powering the EVCS charging network through renewable sources has been consistent almost since our inception, and this year, we were able to come one step closer to a carbon negative future by arranging to buy all our electricity from renewable energy producers through credit offsets. This financial commitment allows said producers to reinvest in expansion and innovation so that, someday, offsets will no longer be needed because widespread renewables will make fossil fuels a thing of the past.

“For chargers [under the Net Zero Scenario], $939 billion would be required in investment by 2040 to install 504 million units.”

The goal of a planet with net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a noble one, and large government investments will be key in facilitating the transition away from ICEs and fossil fuel-based infrastructure, but private organizations have to be ready to take up the mantle and execute the goals that government officials put forth. EVCS has been active in streamlining the assessment, permitting, installation and maintenance processes through a unique, no-hassle turnkey solution that maximizes the return on government investment. In other words, yes, subsidies are absolutely required, but once approved, we know what to do with them.

You can read the entire BNEF article here:

https://about.bnef.com/blog/electric-vehicle-sales-set-to-rise-faster-than-ever-but-more-policy-action-needed-to-get-on-track-for-net-zero/

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Top 10 Reasons Why Mass EV Adoption is Inevitable

According to evadoption.com, EV sales are expected to grow from 3.4% of all new auto sales in 2021 to 29.5% in 2030. In fact, they cite several models that forecast explosive growth in EV ownership across the US over the next decade. See the full sales forecasts here complete with bar charts and supporting data: https://evadoption.com/ev-sales/ev-sales-forecasts/. While skeptics might pooh-pooh these projections as overly optimistic, we believe they may actually fall short of the eventual reality. Of course, only time will tell, but below are our top 10 reasons why we believe EVs will be as commonplace as microwaves come 2030.

Installation of the Month (July 2021): LADOT Lot 657

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.

West Coast Electric Highway to Receive Extensive Upgrade from EVCS

ARCADIA, Calif. (August XX, 2021) – EV Charging Solutions (EVCS), one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network operators on the West Coast, today announced that they are approved and funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to upgrade 44 and add three new electric vehicle charging stations on the Oregon portion of the original West Coast Electric Highway (WCEH). Eleven of the 47 stations will be called “superstations” and will include three DC fast chargers and one Level 2 AC charger. In all, more than 100 charging ports will be upgraded or added.

Auto Trends Magazine: Occhiuzzo Debunks 4 Misconceptions Surrounding EV Fast Charging Stations

Our co-founder and CEO, Gustavo Occhiuzzo, is quickly emerging as a thought leader in the world of electric mobility, becoming someone stakeholders can count on to demystify obscurities and address falsehoods surrounding the installation and application of charging infrastructure. Like any new technology, resistance to adoption is often based on fallacious notions, some of which may be perpetrated by those with a financial interest in competing technologies. Therefore, countering such notions with facts is crucial if both drivers and site hosts are to make an informed decision about EV adoption. Occhiuzzo most recently addressed four of the biggest misconceptions surrounding chargers in the article below for Auto Trends Magazine.

“Who’s Saving the Planet?” Podcast Interviews Gustavo Occhiuzzo

EVCS co-founder and CEO Gustavo Occhiuzzo recently spoke on the “Who’s Saving the Planet?” podcast about the electric mobility revolution and what we as a company are doing to help realize a truly carbon-neutral future. During the conversation with hosts Anthony Noto and Jessica Miles, Occhiuzzo made several critical points that help listeners understand where we are now in that mission, the obstacles we face, what EVCS has done to overcome those obstacles, and what we can do better as a global community. Here are some of the most prescient points: