Southern California Edison (SCE) is to deploy 38,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers over the next five years as part of a $436 million programme.
Carter Prescott, SCE director of eMobility and building electrification, says: “As SCE is preparing its electric grid to serve the increase in transportation electrification, more charging equipment is needed to give EV drivers and fleet operators the peace of mind that they will be able to charge whenever they want. Today, we are asking our customers to join with us to ensure that an effective framework is in place for a clean air future for our communities.”
SCE says its Charge Ready programme allowed it to help non-profit organisation Fairplex install 200 EV ports at the 487-acre site that hosts the Los Angeles County Fair and 400 other events throughout the year.
Fairplex interim CEO Walter Marquez says: “Being an early adopter, we are now actually able to help others who are contemplating expanding their infrastructure through Charge Ready, and we appreciate that partnership with SCE. We know that electric vehicles and charging are very much a part of what California is going to be in the future and where it’s headed now.”
Additionally, SCE has helped the city of Long Beach install 102 EV ports at five sites, including the Aquarium of the Pacific, The Pike Outlets, City Place, the city’s fleet services yard and the Long Beach Police Academy.
April Walker, project management officer with the city, says: “The best part of participating in Charge Ready is being able to provide a benefit to both our public and our fleet. Transitioning fleet vehicles to zero-emission and electric is a benefit because you’re reducing the emissions that go right back into these communities.”
SCE is to continue providing charging infrastructure at workplaces, public car parks, schools, hospitals and destination centres, with an added emphasis on apartment complexes.
