There were many EV-related announcements for Earth Day including Booster, Hyundai, Fuel Me, Cars.com, Volta, ZEV and EVgo.
Booster Delivers EV Charging
Booster, the technology platform for mobile energy delivery, today announced the expansion of its service to include on-demand electric vehicle (EV) charging. The capability makes Booster the first technology company to expand its platform beyond conventional to renewable energy.
As it grows to meet the demand of mixed fleets serving the last-mile delivery economy, Booster’s proprietary telematics enable the company to distribute energy more efficiently, all through the touch of a button. The company is building on its conventional energy capabilities to meet the increased demand for EVs, broadening the benefits of its service to the 500,000+ electric vehicles in California.
Booster’s mobile charging service will supplement the often inadequate charging infrastructure at existing customer locations. The service aims to provide additional peace of mind for EV owners, ensuring they don’t have to rely exclusively on fixed charging stations. In addition, mobile EV charging offers an alternative in the event of temporary brown/black outs, keeping EVs up and running even in regions that don’t have easy access to charging stations.
The pilot service will be available to select customers in the San Francisco Bay Area starting summer 2021 via the Booster app, available for iOS and Android.
Hyundai NEXO in Escondido
As California continues to lead the nation in clean air initiatives, Hyundai fuels the advancement of sustainable mobility and zero emissions solutions with its NEXO fuel cell SUV, now available at Hyundai Escondido in San Diego County. Hyundai Escondido is the first NEXO dealer in San Diego County and the fifth in California, with two dedicated dealerships in Northern California and three in Southern California. NEXO can be leased for $379 for 36 months, including complimentary hydrogen fuel for three years (up to $15,000), and free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
NEXO is the technological flagship of Hyundai’s growing eco-vehicle portfolio. Based on a dedicated vehicle platform, NEXO is the cleanest, longest-range (380 mile) zero-emissions mid-size SUV on the road. NEXO refueling is as short as five minutes, allowing a consumer lifestyle similar to a comparable gasoline-powered SUV in terms of both range and refueling speed.
Fuel Me Fuels Deliver of EV Charging
Fuel Me, the leader in nationwide energy distribution, is proud to announce the launch of EV Fuel Me, a new division that is dedicated to both stationary and portable electric charging solutions. EV Fuel Me systems use clean energy as they are able to operate with clean fuels such as Propane (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). This means drastically reducing the carbon footprint of electric vehicles while receiving faster and more accessible charging solutions.
Capitalizing on its portable charging solution and nationwide vendor network, EV Fuel Me is offering 24/7 electric vehicle roadside assistance services through its mobile application. No more having to get towed to the nearest charging station. The EV Fuel Me portable charging solution will be delivered to any vehicle for a quick charge of 2 miles per minute.
Moving to electric vehicles can help save our planet all while reducing operational costs for the consumer. The only issue with electric vehicles is the lack of charging infrastructure that is accessible to fossil fuel powered vehicles. As stated by COO Tom Hunter, “EV Fuel Me is the solution that the market has been waiting for.” With an expanding nationwide network of portable and stationary systems, EV Fuel Me is working towards enabling the growth of the electric vehicle industry with the necessary infrastructure and convenience for proper integration, all while reducing carbon emissions.
As we all work towards a green future, Fuel Me wants to capitalize on its energy distribution infrastructure to be an important player in this fundamental shift.
Still Not Familiar with EVs
New research from Parks Associates reveals consumer interest in clean energy solutions has expanded, with 43% of US broadband households stating they would prefer to live in a community powered by solar energy, but low familiarity with energy devices is still a barrier for adoption for most households. The firm’s “Smart, Clean, Connected: The Future of Home Energy Management,” a survey of 10,000 US broadband households, notes that only 26% of respondents report they are “very familiar” with electric vehicles, despite the fact that a growing number of products are now on the market.
Cars.com Reports Barriers to EV Adoptions
Leading automotive digital marketplace and solutions provider Cars.com (NYSE: CARS) today revealed new research that Americans’ interest in electric vehicles is on the rise. Sixty-six percent of respondents in Cars.com’s national survey stated an increased desire to buy an EV after hearing President Biden’s infrastructure plans to invest $174 billion in the EV market, including a national network of 500,000 EV charging locations by 2030.1 However, 81% of respondents report that barriers remain, obstructing the path to purchase.1
“Interest in EVs is growing, yet remaining barriers indicate mainstream adoption is still about a decade away,” said Aaron Bragman, Cars.com’s Detroit bureau chief. “Tens of millions of car shoppers are on Cars.com, making us an excellent barometer for the industry. Today, only 1% of total search share on Cars.com is for EVs.2 However, the growing lineup of electric pickup trucks and SUVs, plus the current administration’s support of the EV market, will continue to accelerate much-needed consumer awareness and could lead to a positive shift in buying habits in the near future.”
Nearly 20% of Americans report the lack of SUVs in the current EV lineup as a critical factor in the desire to purchase a traditional gasoline vehicle.1 But excitement is growing with the highly anticipated release of affordable electric SUVs such as the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 and the Tesla Model Y; that interest is further enhanced by the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUV, Cars.com’s 2021 Best Eco-Friendly Car of the Year. Since hitting local dealership lots in December, the Mach-E accounts for 34% of total EV search share on Cars.com, the highest among any EV or hybrid vehicle on the site.2
Bragman added, “In addition to its national availability and range as far as 300 miles, the Mach-E is what American buyers prefer but haven’t been able to find in electric form: a small SUV.”
Additional trends uncovered by Cars.com’s research that impact the EV market include:
- Barriers prevent EV ownership. The primary obstacles preventing consumers from buying electric vehicles are cost (34%), limited range (32%) and a lack of charging stations (32%).1
- Urban buyers lead the way. Cars.com search data found that urban buyers are three times more likely to buy EVs.3 Of the 1% of total EV search share on Cars.com, Los Angeles accounts for 9% of searches; followed by Chicago (8%); Washington, D.C. (6%); New York (5%); and Dallas (4%).2
- Rising fuel prices nudge consideration. If gas prices continue rising, 76% of car owners would assess switching to an EV. Coincidentally, 35% of current EV owners cited gas savings as one of the factors that led to the purchase.1
- Environmentally friendly, slick tech and sleek style are the tickets to purchase. The main reasons for purchasing an EV are environmental benefits (48%) and the tech features and updated vehicle style (45%).1
- EV adopters are loyal. For those who have made the switch to an EV, it could be permanent: 86% of EV owners say they would buy an EV for their next car purchase.1
More Volta Charging at Macy’s
Volta, the industry leader in commerce-centric electric vehicle charging networks, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Macy’s to offer free charging to its customers at dozens of locations nationwide. Contributing to Macy’s published commitment to sustainability, Volta will continue deploying its electric vehicle charging services at key Macy’s properties. With approximately 100 Volta charging stations already installed at nearly 40 locations, Macy’s will expand this environmentally friendly convenience by more than 50 percent this year, adding 20 locations with many more to come.
ZEV Intelligent Cloud
ZEV, an innovative sustainable energy company for electric vehicles, today announced the Fleet Management Functionality of its Intelligent Cloud Platform in conjunction with the driving debut of its Sprinter Electrification Kit. The Fleet Management Portal will allow ZEV customers to monitor their Electric Vehicle through the ZEV fleet portal or extend their own fleet portal by leveraging ZEV’s API gateway.
The Intelligent Cloud Platform is the cornerstone of ZEV’s Software Driven Electric Vehicle. Utilizing Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its Connected Mobility Solution, ZEV was able to rapidly develop and test the Intelligent Cloud Platform, which can monitor and configure hundreds of energy-related data elements to create the best electric vehicle driving experience. In addition, leveraging AWS technologies to simulate driving scenarios and redeploy updated algorithms to the components, ZEV will continuously improve its products over the life of the vehicle.
More EVgo Stations
As the country commemorates Earth Day, EVgo, the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) and only platform powered by 100% renewable electricity, today officially opened four of its newest fast chargers in our nation’s capital at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station, as well as two additional fast chargers at a shopping center in nearby Bethesda, Maryland. EVgo CEO Cathy Zoi was onsite to celebrate the opening of the new stations.
Both of the new EVgo stations announced today leverage EVgo Access®, an innovation embedded into the EVgo app to enable customers to access charging stations in gated parking lots without paying additional parking fees. There are more paid parking lots and garages than grocery stores in the U.S., and unlocking access to a combination of these spaces will be necessary to enable more drivers to go electric, especially for residents of multi-unit dwellings.