SACE's Electric Transportation Director shares insights into timely electric vehicle (EV) topics on LinkedIn. Check out what's captured his attention recently and join the conversation.

The amount of information available about EVs has increased from scant to overwhelming in the past five years as the adoption of passenger EVs has expanded rapidly and electric buses and trucks have begun hitting the road. Unfortunately, while many credible resources provide accurate facts and figures, others use disinformation to confuse the public, politicize the technology, and slow EV market momentum. As a result, the public EV conversation has become a hot mess.

Consumers deserve accurate information. SACE and others, including the federal government, media outlets, and industry associations, are countering disinformation with facts and personal stories from EV drivers. Despite our crucial truth-telling work, the fact remains that to understand EVs fully, you must experience the technology firsthand.

The good news is that I have yet to meet an EV driver who does not embrace the opportunity EVs provide to transform our problematic transportation system from the leading cause of climate pollution, a detriment to public health, and a risk to national security to a sector that leads America towards a clean, safer, and more secure future. I am talking hyperbolically here: EVs reduce climate pollution, improve public health, and enhance national security.

I have been driving EVs since 2013, relying on them to meet my mobility needs. I am always happy to share my experience and answer questions honestly. To that end, here are a few of my recent EV-related observations on challenges and opportunities drivers and the market are facing and seizing as more EVs arrive in driveways, bus depots, and distribution centers across the country.

Taking Charge: The Woes and Wahoos of Public EV Charging

As of June 30, EV drivers can charge at 23,691 publicly available ports across the Southeast, an encouraging 31% growth. However, at 0.36 ports per capita, our region still lags the national average of 0.48 ports. And deploying EV charging is only half the battle; maintaining the chargers and access is the other half. This summer, I experienced both the highs and lows of public EV charging during road trips to Charlotte and Durham. Most recently, I planned to leave my Tesla Model Y at a Level 2 charger while attending the NC Sustainable Fleets Conference & Expo nearby. Perfect in theory. But not in reality. Of the six publicly available chargers, three stations were occupied, two were dead, and one was functional but in a handicap-only spot (props for equitable accessibility!). Though manageable, the experience showed the importance of pairing fast charger network rollouts with reliable, abundant Level 2 destination charging at places like convention centers, hotels, and attractions. Read more.

Leveling Up: The History of Asheville’s Latest Fleet Charging Station

Speaking of Level 2 chargers, Asheville’s latest fleet charging station never fails to make me smile! The company I co-founded, Brightfield Transportation Solutions, designed and installed this solar-integrated, grid-connected charging station way back in 2011. Back then, it was a showpiece public Level 2 station with six ports in the heart of downtown. The project was initially funded through a grant from the US Department of Energy. The City of Asheville, as a project partner, leased Brightfield the land for $1/year for ten years, creating a model public-private partnership that was replicated across the state. As the lease term ended, the solar canopy, underground, and electrical assets were donated to the City, which installed new Level 2 chargers, turning the station into an innovative fleet charging hub. I love this story because it showcases the journey from then to now. Though much has changed, the EV industry remains a place of entrepreneurship, technology, and public-private partnership innovation! Read more.

Beyond Cars: The Importance of Greening All Forms of Transportation

As SACE’s Electric Transportation Director, I spend a lot of time thinking about cars. But a future free from fossil fuels means greening all modes of transportation, from investing in multimodal transportation to electrifying our lawn equipment. For me, few acts feel as liberating as riding a bike. Unfortunately, I still have to get in my EV to drive to the nearest grocery store. Though I enjoy access to great recreational riding, I cannot safely peddle my bike to the commercial center of Weaverville (2 miles away) or Asheville (10 miles away) because, for the past 70+ years, planners and the state DOT have centered transportation investments on moving cars as quickly as possible, leaving pedestrians and cyclists in the dust. This situation is common in towns and cities across the Southeast and the nation. As America transitions to EVs, we should not miss the opportunity to invest in safe multimodal transportation, including bike lanes. After all, the lowest polluting, least expensive, and most energy-secure mile is the one you don’t drive. Read more.

Want to join the EV conversation? Let’s connect on LinkedIn!

SACE’s Electrify the South program leverages research, advocacy, and outreach to accelerate the equitable transition to electric transportation across the Southeast. Visit ElectrifytheSouth.org to learn more and connect with us.