Electric vehicle fast-charging network provider EVgo has been selected to receive proposed awards totaling $6.6 million from the California Energy Commission's California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) 2.0 program.
The funding is aimed at supporting the deployment of fast charging infrastructure in California’s central and eastern regions through the Golden State Priority Project (GSPP), which offers rebates for installing DC fast chargers with a capacity of at least 150 kW, specifically targeting disadvantaged and low-income communities.
With the proposed funding, the company says it will build over 100 350-kW DC fast-charging stalls across 17 locations in central and eastern California, including San Jose, Antioch, El Cerrito, Manteca, Hayward and Fresno.
Over 40 percent of EVgo’s existing fast-charging network in California is already located in disadvantaged and low-income areas, and the 17 new projects will make EV charging more accessible and affordable to communities that will benefit most from the electrification of transportation, the company notes.
The GSPP, launched in January 2023, is the first project available through CALeVIP 2.0 with a focus on equity and swift charger installation. The project incorporates a number of public funding best practices, including a focus on higher-power equipment and project readiness, and prioritizes projects that are likely to deliver near-term results for Californians.
The state is by far the most receptive to emobility initiatives, with some almost 600,000 EVs registered throughout California, according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center report using year-old numbers. This accounts for nearly 40 percent of all registered EVs nationwide, while EV adoption in the U.S. is growing about 40 percent annually.
“EVgo recognizes the ongoing importance of public-private partnerships to enable rapid EV adoption, and the California Energy Commission is a true leader in incenting market acceleration and private sector investment through programs like CALeVIP 2.0,” said Jonathan Levy, Chief Commercial Officer at EVgo. “EVgo and the CEC share a commitment to Electric for All that includes ensuring fast charging infrastructure is distributed equitably and installed in communities across demographics and geographies.”
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, EVgo has around 900 fast-charging locations in 60 metropolitan areas across 30 states.
