Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was founded in 1905, when conventional vehicles meant electric. Now, the California-based utility giant wants to do its part to turn back the clock. More or less.
PG&E is looking to build out the infrastructure to allow the deployment of about 25,000 plug-in vehicle charging stations throughout the utility's service area across Northern and Central California. Almost all of those stations would be of the Level 2 variety, which typically provide about 25 miles of range per hour of charging, but about 100 of those chargers would be fast chargers. The chargers would be deployed in apartment buildings, offices and retail centers.
To complete the process, PG&E would cut deals with third-party providers that would build out the chargers themselves and then be responsible for maintenance and could bill for the electricity provision. But PG&E would own the infrastructure, whose build-out cost wasn't disclosed but would be substantial. Additionally, about 2,500 of the stations would be within "disadvantaged" communities. PG&E still needs state approval for the plan.
For those keeping track, PG&E's service area includes more than 60,000 plug-in vehicles, or more than 20 percent of the country's total. Looking broader, California's 2012 ZEV Action Plan calls for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles to be on California's roads by 2025. If this plan goes ahead, the deployment would dwarf the state's current total of about 2,000 stations with about 6,200 plugs, according to the US Department of Energy. PG&E does offer home charging rates. Check out PG&E's press release below.
PG&E is looking to build out the infrastructure to allow the deployment of about 25,000 plug-in vehicle charging stations throughout the utility's service area across Northern and Central California. Almost all of those stations would be of the Level 2 variety, which typically provide about 25 miles of range per hour of charging, but about 100 of those chargers would be fast chargers. The chargers would be deployed in apartment buildings, offices and retail centers.
To complete the process, PG&E would cut deals with third-party providers that would build out the chargers themselves and then be responsible for maintenance and could bill for the electricity provision. But PG&E would own the infrastructure, whose build-out cost wasn't disclosed but would be substantial. Additionally, about 2,500 of the stations would be within "disadvantaged" communities. PG&E still needs state approval for the plan.
For those keeping track, PG&E's service area includes more than 60,000 plug-in vehicles, or more than 20 percent of the country's total. Looking broader, California's 2012 ZEV Action Plan calls for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles to be on California's roads by 2025. If this plan goes ahead, the deployment would dwarf the state's current total of about 2,000 stations with about 6,200 plugs, according to the US Department of Energy. PG&E does offer home charging rates. Check out PG&E's press release below.
PG&E Proposes Major Build-Out of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Plan for 25,000 Chargers Will Help California Meet Clean Transportation and Climate Goals
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today asked state regulators for permission to build an estimated 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at sites across its service area in Northern and Central California. If approved, this program would be the largest deployment of EV charging stations in the country.
The chargers would be located at commercial and public locations, including multi-family dwellings, retail centers, and workplaces. Approximately 10 percent of the chargers would be installed to support disadvantaged communities. PG&E would also provide tools and educational materials for site hosts and customers to learn about the benefits of electric vehicles.
"Our proposed build-out of EV charging infrastructure aims to accelerate customer adoption of clean, quiet, and efficient plug-in vehicles by reducing lingering range anxiety. It reflects our commitment to helping the state of California meet its critical clean air and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by promoting cleaner transportation," said Tony Earley, chairman, president, and CEO of PG&E Corporation.
"By supporting market acceptance of electric vehicles, it should create tremendous new opportunities for other infrastructure and technology companies, help keep California in the forefront of EV innovation, and create new jobs in local communities across Northern and Central California," Earley said.
More than 60,000 plug-in electric vehicles are currently registered in PG&E's service area, which represents more than a fifth of all EVs in the United States. The Governor's Office has called for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles in California by 2025 to help meet the state's ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. To support that plan, industry models suggest that PG&E's service area will need about 100,000 Level 2 chargers in public locations by 2020.
All of the 25,000 stations PG&E proposes to build would have Level 2 chargers, which provide up to 25 miles of range for every hour of charging. To support travel between metropolitan areas, PG&E would also install at key locations 100 DC fast chargers, which can recharge an EV's battery in only 30 minutes. A growing number of DC fast charging stations are being deployed along the "West Coast Electric Highway," which serves drivers from British Columbia to Baja California.
The chargers would be provided at no cost to the site host. PG&E proposes to own all of the infrastructure, but contract with third parties to build, install and maintain the chargers and manage customer billing. The utility expects that the program will take about five years to complete following approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The cost of PG&E's plan, if approved, would be shared by all electric customers as a contribution to helping the state meet its clean air and climate goals.
The total impact on system average bundled rates would be minimal in 2016 and 2017 and would average only a tenth of a cent per kilowatt-hour over the next five years of the program. A typical residential customer would pay about 70 cents more per month over the period 2018 to 2022.
PG&E is a strong supporter of transportation electrification for a cleaner environment. The utility has more than 1,200 electric-base vehicles in its fleet, and is a leader in introducing new electric technology into its vehicles. It was one of the first utilities in the country to offer money-saving rate plans for EV customer charging. It recently announced a major smart-charging pilot program with automaker BMW. Earley is co-chair of the Edison Electric Institute's Electric Transportation Task Force.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
Plan for 25,000 Chargers Will Help California Meet Clean Transportation and Climate Goals
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today asked state regulators for permission to build an estimated 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at sites across its service area in Northern and Central California. If approved, this program would be the largest deployment of EV charging stations in the country.
The chargers would be located at commercial and public locations, including multi-family dwellings, retail centers, and workplaces. Approximately 10 percent of the chargers would be installed to support disadvantaged communities. PG&E would also provide tools and educational materials for site hosts and customers to learn about the benefits of electric vehicles.
"Our proposed build-out of EV charging infrastructure aims to accelerate customer adoption of clean, quiet, and efficient plug-in vehicles by reducing lingering range anxiety. It reflects our commitment to helping the state of California meet its critical clean air and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by promoting cleaner transportation," said Tony Earley, chairman, president, and CEO of PG&E Corporation.
"By supporting market acceptance of electric vehicles, it should create tremendous new opportunities for other infrastructure and technology companies, help keep California in the forefront of EV innovation, and create new jobs in local communities across Northern and Central California," Earley said.
More than 60,000 plug-in electric vehicles are currently registered in PG&E's service area, which represents more than a fifth of all EVs in the United States. The Governor's Office has called for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles in California by 2025 to help meet the state's ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. To support that plan, industry models suggest that PG&E's service area will need about 100,000 Level 2 chargers in public locations by 2020.
All of the 25,000 stations PG&E proposes to build would have Level 2 chargers, which provide up to 25 miles of range for every hour of charging. To support travel between metropolitan areas, PG&E would also install at key locations 100 DC fast chargers, which can recharge an EV's battery in only 30 minutes. A growing number of DC fast charging stations are being deployed along the "West Coast Electric Highway," which serves drivers from British Columbia to Baja California.
The chargers would be provided at no cost to the site host. PG&E proposes to own all of the infrastructure, but contract with third parties to build, install and maintain the chargers and manage customer billing. The utility expects that the program will take about five years to complete following approval by the California Public Utilities Commission.
The cost of PG&E's plan, if approved, would be shared by all electric customers as a contribution to helping the state meet its clean air and climate goals.
The total impact on system average bundled rates would be minimal in 2016 and 2017 and would average only a tenth of a cent per kilowatt-hour over the next five years of the program. A typical residential customer would pay about 70 cents more per month over the period 2018 to 2022.
PG&E is a strong supporter of transportation electrification for a cleaner environment. The utility has more than 1,200 electric-base vehicles in its fleet, and is a leader in introducing new electric technology into its vehicles. It was one of the first utilities in the country to offer money-saving rate plans for EV customer charging. It recently announced a major smart-charging pilot program with automaker BMW. Earley is co-chair of the Edison Electric Institute's Electric Transportation Task Force.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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