EV charging companies form new trade association to help push the industry forward
Leading American firms involved in electric vehicle charging have formed the Electric Vehicle Association (EVCA). This not-for-profit trade organisation aims to help further advancement in the industry and its founding members are: ABM, ChargePoint, Clean Fuel Connection, Envision Solar, EV Connect, NRG EVgo, Plugless Power, SeaWave Battery, and Volta, all of whom are headquartered or maintain a significant presence in California.

SACRAMENTO, CA -- Oct. 27, 2015: Leaders from the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, technology and services industry announced today the formation of the Electric Vehicle Charging Association (EVCA), a not-for-profit trade association created to achieve clean transportation by advancing continued innovation in the EV charging industry. EVCA, the first coalition in California and the nation to promote the EV charging industry, concurrently announced release of The State of the Charge, a report documenting the charging industry's rapid growth in California and the significant economic opportunity it presents for the state.

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"Ubiquitous charging is critical to the mass adoption of electric vehicles," said Terry O'Day, Vice President West Region NRG EVgo, the nation's largest provider of public DC fast chargers. "The charging industry is committed to making electric vehicles accessible to everyone and to improving and simplifying the charging experience."

According to The State of the Charge, there are now more than 9,000 public and workplace charging outlets in California, and thousands more in residences – more than 20,000 total. The number of public/workplace charging outlets in California has grown by 652% since 2011. With 150,000 electric vehicles on its highways, California has 40% of the U.S. electric vehicle market, and the industry is expected to generate roughly $4.5 billion in California sales and services by 2023. Gov. Jerry Brown has called for one million zero-emission vehicles in California by 2020 and recently signed into law SB 350 to expand EV charging.

California leads the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, technology, and services," noted Colleen Quinn, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy for ChargePoint, North America's largest EV charging network. "The continued growth and diversity of this industry is critical to meeting California's ambitious clean air and climate protection goals, and the EV industry supports more than 2,000 California jobs."

The electric vehicle industry faces both tremendous challenges and opportunities as more and more electric vehicles hit the road in California," said Scott Mercer, Founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Volta Charging, whose innovative model brings together brands, site owners, and engaged citizens to provide free public charging at prominent and convenient venues like shopping centers and civic entertainment districts. "Bringing together a wealth of talent and entrepreneurial thinkers, EVCA can effectively drive new ways of making electric vehicle charging affordable, convenient, and accessible to everyone. Paramount to these efforts will be the development of sound and bold policy that supports and enhances continued innovation for an effective charging infrastructure that drives further electric vehicle adoption in California," Mercer continued.

In creating the trade association, the electric vehicle charging industry is taking an important step to help shape California's growing EV infrastructure, advocate for policies to advance clean transportation, and serve as a resource for information and expertise. Efforts will focus on creating an environment that maintains the highest levels of innovation and creates maximum value for electric vehicle drivers.

"Innovation of the electric vehicle charging industry is essential to making electric vehicles the transportation mode of choice, and our companies are leading the way," said Rebecca Hough, CEO of Plugless Power, which has developed the world's first wireless charging station and has partnered with the City of Sacramento and other leading institutions in California. "EVCA will work with a broad group of leaders and stakeholders for the innovative solutions needed to effectively and rapidly scale EV charging."

Founding members of EVCA are ABM, ChargePoint, Clean Fuel Connection, Envision Solar, EV Connect, NRG EVgo, Plugless Power, SeaWave Battery, and Volta, all of which are headquartered or maintain a significant presence in California. The State of the Charge and additional information about EVCA are available at EV Association