West Coast Electric Highway to Receive Extensive Upgrade from EVCS

< Back
August 11, 2021
June 30, 2023
9:30 pm
2:35 pm
Press
Electric Car Charging
News

West Coast Electric Highway to Receive Extensive Upgrade from EVCS

44 charging sites in Oregon to be revamped by leading charging station company

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.

This upgrade will replace existing CHAdeMO-only DC fast chargers with new DC fast chargers that have both CCS-combo and CHAdeMO DCFC charging capability, which will allow all Oregon EV drivers to use the WCEH stations. The existing Level 2 AC chargers will also be replaced with new equipment. Another new feature will be a 110V outlet for e-bikes and e-scooters. For Tesla drivers, a CHAdeMO adaptor will be available for use at all EVCS stations.

In Oregon, and across the nation, one issue with choosing to drive electric is the lack of available charging facilities. The West Coast Electric Highway offers an extensive network of charging stations in convenient locations from Baja California to British Columbia, Canada. EVCS, with its deep expertise developing zero emission infrastructure, will provide upgrades to ensure that all EV drivers have access to these stations, powered by renewable energy sourced from the procurement of Renewable Energy Certificates.

“Our goal is to create the most reliable and accessible EV charging infrastructure in the nation,” said Gustavo Occhiuzzo, CEO of EVCS. “EVCS’s collaboration with ODOT to upgrade the West Coast Electric Highway will help increase driver confidence in going electric as we seek to combat climate change through our sustainable charging stations.”

An EVCS subscription plan will be available that includes a monthly unlimited EV charging plan and a pay-as-you-go option. Various payment methods will be available including the EVCS app, PlugShare app, QR codes, and credit card readers.

The Oregon portion of the West Coast Electric Highway — 44 sites — is a public-private partnership under ODOT’s Oregon Innovative Partnership Program. The $5M station upgrade project is supported by a $4M grant from ODOT, which is a combination of federal and state funds, as part of ODOT’s commitment to increasing electrification infrastructure. EVCS will provide approximately 20% match funding, or $1M, for the upgrade project. The two-year project is set to launch by October 2021.

“Modern and accessible public charging is a basic need for Oregon’s EV owners, and will encourage more Oregonians to make the switch to EVs, which in turn will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation,” Travis Brouwer, ODOT assistant director for Revenue, Finance and Compliance. “We’re proud to partner with EVCS to source funding for these critical upgrades, and excited for their continued stewardship of the West Coast Electric Highway.”

About EVCS

EVCS was founded in 2018 by Green Commuter founder Gustavo Occhiuzzo and finance expert Ian Vishnevsky to provide and operate public- and private-based EV charging infrastructure. EVCS disrupted the mobility power industry by employing a complete turnkey approach that utilizes both public and private grants, rebates, and other financial incentives to encourage governments and businesses to install fast charging stations. EVCS has secured over $50M in government funding and engaged over 500 partner sites. EVCS’s mission is to cut emissions while simultaneously improving air quality by enabling adoption of EVs. EVCS is also the owner/operator of the Washington State portion of the original WCEH network of EV charging stations. Visit EVCS for more information here: www.evcs.com

About West Coast Electric Highway

The West Coast Electric Highway is an extensive network of electric vehicle DC fast charging stations located every 25 to 50 miles along Interstate 5, Hwy 101, and other major roadways in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. The initiative is a collection of projects, funding sources, and partners with the same vision: to provide a network of fast charging stations enabling electric vehicle drivers to make longer trips and travel between cities. Learn more online: www.westcoastgreenhighway.com/electrichighway.htm

Media Contact:  Maddie Cuttler | PR DEPT | evcs@pr-dept.com

Back
14
Feb
/
21
30
June
/
23
Electric Car Charging

Installation of the Month (March 2021): The Elysian

EVCS continues to put charging stations in the ground at a record-setting pace, further proving that the notion of responsible mobility is gaining momentum with SoCal motorists. We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve been able to do over the past couple years, which has simultaneously benefitted countless individuals (with cheaper modes of transport), businesses (with new revenue models), and the environment (with cleaner air quality). Moreover, many of our newer sites are residential buildings, making EV ownership more of a practical reality for tens of thousands of Californians who have otherwise been apprehensive about cutting the cord with ICE vehicles.

READ MORE
3
Feb
/
21
30
June
/
23
Electric Car Charging

Installation of the Month (February 2021): Hollywood & Highland

In the movie Spider-man, Uncle Ben tells Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The phrase, which came to be known as the “Peter Parker Principle,” is just as true today as it was 20 years ago when the movie first premiered. And just as Peter took seriously his newfound powers, we take seriously our responsibility to facilitate broader access to vehicle electrification options – quite literally the “great power” here is the electricity that keeps EVs moving. We also understand the power of movies and television to convey the importance of electric mobility, be it through information, entertainment or influence marketing. As such, Hollywood has become a tremendous partner in advancing the EVCS mission.

READ MORE
19
Jan
/
21
30
June
/
23
Electric Car Charging

Installation of the Month (January 2021): Barlow Respiratory Hospital

While 2021 brings hope and promise for greater widespread adoption of electric mobility, a quick glance at our portfolio reminds us of all the headway we’ve already made toward that end. Last year, we seized on positive customer sentiment and abundant fiscal opportunities in the green energy space, allowing us to become one of the top installers of EV charging infrastructure in the State of California (with 500+ installations completed and counting). As such, we thought it might be worthwhile to share some of these installations with you – a new success story each month – so that you can see firsthand the favorable strides we’re making toward a carbon-neutral future.

READ MORE
16
Dec
/
20
30
June
/
23
Electric Car Charging
Electric Vehicles
News

2020: A Year in Review

Two thousand twenty has been a year of undeniable adversity, but also one of remarkable achievement. A year of firsts and hopefully a few lasts. A time of toil and tribulation, but also of triumph. For genuine success is partly defined by our ability to hurdle those implacable obstacles that make the result so noteworthy in the first place. Now, as the EVCS team looks back on this unusual year, we take stock of our unique achievements that made 2020 one for the books.

READ MORE
10
Dec
/
20
30
June
/
23
Electric Car Charging
News

Electrification Progress in the Age of COVID

It’s pretty clear that vaccine or no, COVID will be here for a while, and with it the new normal of face masks, social distancing, telecommuting and (consequently) less road travel. While some might view this with trepidation, we see it as an opportunity. Since the earliest weeks of the pandemic, major metro areas like Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago – those with large reductions in automobile traffic – immediately began seeing improvements in air quality, according to articles in the New York Times and Washington Post. More recent, an NPR story noted ozone pollution has decreased as much as 15% in many of these places. It seems an unintended consequence of the lockdown has been to accelerate the transition to responsible mobility by demonstrating its positive effects on the environment.

READ MORE