Americans are purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) as fast as they are being produced, and though it’s thrilling to see such a dramatic spike in EV adoption, the fact is that many states still lack the needed charging infrastructure to support EV drivers. Disadvantaged and underserved communities see even fewer EV chargers, and could face the threat of a growing EV adoption divide.
Early recognition of this dynamic is the basis of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which brings a historic level of federal investment to the creation of critical EV charging infrastructure; and, the IIJA’s Justice40 Initiative ensures that public investment delivers at least 40 percent of climate and clean energy benefits to disadvantaged communities.
As pioneers in the EV Charging space, we keenly recognize that charging deserts hold back EV adoption – along with the economic and health benefits that come with it. We are proud to announce Volta’s Charging for All initiative - our commitment to advancing public infrastructure investment goals: delivering affordable, reliable, and – above all – equitable charging across the U.S.
Volta’s business model was conceived with open access in mind: by using proprietary, predictive data science, we’ve created a national, dynamic EV charging ecosystem that combines the most valuable media network of its kind, with an award-winning EV charging experience in all the places all consumers love to go. Multiple equity goals can be reached at once: awareness, adoption, access and improved health. By focusing on value, Volta chargers deliver much higher utilization per station to cities, drivers, advertisers, businesses, and communities.
As part of our Charging for All initiative, we intend to release an expanded version of our PredictEV® planning platform to deliver focused equity and economic-impact insights to help multiple entities to build EV infrastructure plans for disadvantaged communities, as directed by the federal government’s Justice40 Initiative.
At Volta, as we grow our national charging network – our Charging for All initiative will guide how we meet and advance public-investment goals. To us, Charging for All means innovating in support of cities and states to enable accelerated roll out of critical EV infrastructure, optimization of federal and state funding use, and enable equitable access to charging.
Volta currently partners with cities, states, and electric utilities to integrate equity and environmental justice considerations into their EV infrastructure plans to deploy charging in historically disadvantaged communities. In dense communities where at-home charging is challenging, Volta’s unique EV “charging + media” model was built to solve the proverbial chicken-or-the-egg adoption challenge - specifically, by immediately subsidizing network creation via an alternate revenue stream. Because of our multiple revenue streams, Volta chargers can meet EV adoption in growing markets, helping address charging deserts before they form, and while accelerating the wider benefits of equitable EV adoption.
"Our mobility ecosystems are most effective when they can provide real value and opportunity within all of Michigan's communities, regardless of the size or income of the area," said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer with Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility (OFME). "We are pleased to support Volta and DTE as they work jointly to improve the accessibility and equity of our EV charging locations. This is a key step to ensuring wide-scale EV ecosystem adoption across the state."
"We wanted to reach drivers about the benefits of electric vehicles right where they live, and by providing equitable charging infrastructure in our service area," said Grant Takahashi, a former senior advisor in Southern California Edison's (SCE) eMobility group who developed the EV awareness campaign focused on underserved communities. The ads will serve to remind the public that driving an electric car can mean cleaner air, lower driving costs, and the potential to receive EV rebates.”
As part of our Charging for All initiative, Volta has made tens of millions of media views across its network available to State DOTs – with a focus on inclusive community engagement. The Volta Media™ Network is among the best in its class in media value, with two 55-inch digital screens per station collecting hundreds of millions of views per month.State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are required to engage with stakeholders on how public investment is being spent. Volta will offer public partners access to Volta’s network this year, at no cost to taxpayers. If you’re a state official, sign up here for more information.
Building a charging network for EVs that serves everyone has always been our mission and the framework of our Charging for All initiative. Over the coming months, expect to hear much more from Volta as we bring Charging For All to a community near you.