Revitalizing America’s Infrastructure: How Electric Vehicles Will Transform Our Driving Landscape
In the 1950’s President Eisenhower built a national interstate highway system that transformed American life. His legacy strengthened a post WWII economy, created new opportunities for commerce and trade, and bolstered our national defenses.
More than 50 years later, many of our roads and highways require modernization to keep up with the evolving demands. In 2022 the federal government approved $1.5B in federal funding to build EV corridors along our nation’s busiest interstates and highways. This funding will transform the driving landscape in a way that drivers have not experienced since the mid-fifties.
A national network of EV chargers will make it more convenient for Americans to switch to electric cars. Thereby reducing their carbon footprint and helping the country transition to a more sustainable future.
Building A Nationwide Network of EV Chargers
Building an ecosystem of electric cars and chargers requires collaboration and partnership from both the public and private sectors. Car manufacturers Ford, GM, Honda, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes have announced their rollout of thousands of new EVs to their product offerings in the next few years.
The decreasing cost of EV technology – including battery technology – is a key factor driving EV adoption. As prices become more competitive with traditional gasoline-powered cars, consumers are choosing to switch. The increasing adoption of EVs is driving the demand for charging infrastructure to support these vehicles.
Under the current infrastructure spending plan, the nationwide network will grow to 500,000 chargers no more than 50 miles apart on 75,000 miles of interstate. To illustrate the need, in 2018 there were 16 EVs per charger. As of 2023, there are more than two million EVs on the road and over 160,000 public chargers across the country. Quick math will reveal that’s roughly 12 EVs per charger. Otherwise said, we need more chargers on our highways and streets. Even with the government’s efforts to build hundreds of thousands of chargers along highway corridors, there still may not be enough to meet growing demand. There is a need for public charging infrastructure in parking garages, multi-unit family homes, shopping centers, schools, and other public areas consumers patronize daily.
We don’t have enough coverage for EVs coming online and we’re doing our part to change that,” says Greg Khachatrian, Partner of Solyco Capital.
Solyco Capital has partnered with EVmode, a private sector company building EV chargers based in Orange County, California.
EVmode aims to simplify the charging process by providing a comprehensive charging solution that includes hardware, software, and customer support. From software to hardware, EVmode is the industry’s first vertically integrated manufacturer to design and build in the USA. EVmode leverages cutting-edge software to manage its charging network. The EVmode platform allows users to locate and reserve charging stations, pay for charging sessions, and monitor their charging history. The user-friendly software is essential to encourage more people to switch to EVs and make the charging experience seamless.
EVmode has developed a modular charging system. This allows charging stations to be installed in a variety of locations to meet growing demands. The flexibility makes it easier to deploy charging infrastructure in densely populated areas that may not have had access to it before. “We’re focused on the areas that consumers drive to regularly; schools, shopping malls, restaurants, multi-family developments and hotels,” says Khachatrian.
The need for more EV chargers is particularly acute in densely populated urban areas. There people are more likely to live in apartments or condos, and charging infrastructure may not be readily available.
In September of last year the California Energy Commission (CEC) opened applications for $38 million in equity-focused incentives to fund publicly accessible EV charging stations in underserved areas.
Clearing Obstacles to Wide Spread Adoption
One of the biggest obstacles to the widespread adoption of EVs is range. Drivers experience anxiety due to the limited availability of charging stations. EVmode is developing chargers that seamlessly integrate into the lifestyles and charging needs of EV owners, prioritizing their convenience over any constraints.
EVmode focuses on customer support. They provide 24/7 customer service to help users troubleshoot issues and ensure their charging experience is as smooth as possible. This level of support is crucial in building trust with users and encouraging them to rely on EVs as their primary mode of transportation.
By investing in a comprehensive charging infrastructure, and working with private sector companies like EVmode, the U.S. can alleviate concerns around charge anxiety and encourage more consumers to switch to electric cars.