PG&E to install 7,500 EV chargers across Northern, Central California

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is moving forward in support of the electric car market with a new program that will result in as many as 7,500 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at condos, apartment buildings, and workplaces in California.

“California continues to lead the nation in the fight against climate change and clean transportation is critical to building our sustainable energy future,” Geisha Williams, CEO and president of PG&E Corporation, said. “One in five electric vehicles in the United States plug into PG&E’s clean energy grid. Through this new program, we can help even more of our customers feel confident using electric vehicles, thereby helping the state and our communities meet their clean air and greenhouse-gas emission reduction goals.”

In all, the program is expected to take three years and cost $130 million. At least 15 percent of chargers have been pledged for disadvantaged communities and all site hosts have been given the option of owning their own charging equipment. PG&E, however, can own and operate up to 2,625 of the total 7,500 chargers.

The EV Charge Network program is still accepting applicants, but it plans to begin installing its chargers as early as this first quarter of the year. The first site will be located at Merced College.

“Merced College’s Los Banos Campus is excited to partner with PG&E on their new EV Charge Network program which promotes the sustainability goals of our district,” Joe Allison, Vice President of Administrative Services at Merced College, said. “We are committed to doing our part to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in California and also look forward to providing increased access for future electric vehicle users.”

The program will pay for and build the infrastructure from the existing grid to the charger. PG&E will then offset a portion of that cost of the chargers for all participating customers, which will be based on the site and location of the chargers.