The Biden-Harris Administration this week highlighted the private sector’s more than $700 million investment in charging electric vehicles. A White House fact sheet tells how these investments:
- increase US domestic capacity to produce more than 250,000 new EV chargers each year;
- add at least 2,000 high-paying jobs; and,
- Making EV charging more affordable, accessible and fairer.
The historic private investment follows $7.5 billion included in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes steps to build a national network of EV chargers. The Infrastructure Act includes language that supports systems where “a seamless charging experience” is available through convenient and unified charging at home, work and across the country.
To encourage key voters to join the electric vehicle movement, the government sought support from automakers and unions around an ambitious target for 50% of new vehicles sold in 2030 will be electric† The US auto industry’s collaboration to ramp up production capacity to charge electric cars has been viewed by the government as part of a “renaissance” for automakers in the country.
Additionally, by activating the federal government’s purchasing power to purchase more zero-emission vehicles by 2027 and 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035, U.S. drivers should experience less range anxiety with more convenient, reliable and affordable charging, the White House says. . even when driving long distances.
Interestingly, instead of focusing on federal investment, the White House factsheet describes how the government has catalyzed private investment to increase domestic production capacity for EV chargers.
Where does Tesla fit into the new private investment scenario?
Tesla has made investments in its Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York, to support the implementation of new fast charging stations to add to its fast charging network.
- More than 1,600 employees work at Giga New York, producing the Tesla Solar Roof and Supercharger stations, which can charge vehicles up to 250 kW.
- Tesla is expanding production capacity of power electronics components that convert AC to DC, charging cabinets, poles and cables.
- Later this year, Tesla will begin production of new Supercharger equipment that will allow non-Tesla EV drivers in North America to use Tesla Superchargers. †Remark: This is huge! Non-proprietary charging will be offered by Tesla soon!)
Earlier this year, our very own Steve Hanley reported that Tesla has opened more of its Superchargers in Europe for use by other EV drivers. The shift in EV charging culture will be very significant as an entirely new audience of consumers begins to see themselves driving EVs. Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles don’t require a medley of adapters to attach to the end of gasoline hoses — “star-shaped for Fords, octagonal for GM products, trapezoidal for Chryslers” — but EV drivers are forced to lug around adapters for their charging cables and a pocket full of charging company credentials, each with their own password to remember.
“Our ambition has always been to open up the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs,” the company says, “and thereby encourage more drivers to go electric.” Tesla revealed in 2021 that it was launching its non-Tesla Supercharger pilot, which would continue to expand to new locations and countries in support of the company’s mission to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy.
With this pilot, some stations in selected countries have been made accessible to non-Tesla EV drivers via the Tesla app (version 4.2.3 or higher). Tesla drivers will continue to use these stations as they always have. Part of the pilot involved closely monitoring each location for congestion and listening to customers about their experiences.
What other companies have committed to increasing production capacity for EV charging?
Electrify America, a leading network of fast chargers, announced a new $450 million investment in its charging network by Siemens, a global technology and electrification company, and the Volkswagen Group. These investments will support the rapid deployment of up to 10,000 ultra-fast chargers at 1,800 charging stations, more than the number of high-performance chargers currently available in the US.
[Note: We must not forget that Electrify America is the result of the Volkswagen diesel cheating scandal. Volkswagen is prohibited by the terms of its agreement with federal authorities from branding the charging network as a VW enterprise.]
Siemens On track to build 1,000,000 EV chargers over the next 4 years by investing more than $250 million in the U.S., joins the government’s emphasis on putting union manufacturing jobs ahead of critical power and EV support charging infrastructure. In addition, Siemens announced a $25 million minority stake in a US-based wireless charging company, a new manufacturing facility will come online later this year, and will introduce a new Buy America-compliant AC charger this fall.
ABB E-mobility the activities are increasing with 2 new facilities. In Sugarland, Texas, it is opening a training center where ABB will provide authorized service partners hands-on training for service and maintenance of EV chargers. In Southern California, ABB E-mobility is opening a product development and research facility where it will design, develop and test EV chargers for the US market.
the ChargePoint The EV Charging Network is expanding its partnership with SMTC Corporation to expand DCFC production, establish a Level 2 charger production line at its facility in Milpitas, CA, and create approximately 250 new manufacturing jobs. The expanded facility will be able to produce 10,000 DCFC dispensers and 10,000 Level 2 chargers by 2026.
FLO, a North American EV charging network operator and provider of smart charging solutions, earlier this month announced a $3 million investment in its first US assembly facility in Auburn Hills, MI. By 2028, the facility will produce more than 30,000 Buy America-compliant charging stations and fast chargers annually, create more than 730 jobs and bolster Michigan’s economy by $76 million.
tritium is accelerating its production schedule for DC fast charger production in Q3 2022. It also plans to build its first Buy America chargers in early 2023. This facility will create more than 500 local jobs and will be capable of generating up to 30,000 fast charging units per year.
How will these investments affect workforce development and equity?
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), as part of the Administration’s Talent Pipeline Challenge, pledged to train 10,000 of their members through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) in August.
Philanthropies, including the Hewlett Foundationhas pledged a total of $250,000 to support women and color training workers for EVITP certification – with an emphasis on geographic diversity.
ChargePoint recently partnered with the National Association of Electrical Contractors (NECA) to prepare its nearly 4,000 member companies, all of whom are members of an IBEW union, to quickly and professionally install EV charging infrastructure ahead of the release of NEVI funding to states.
Do you appreciate the originality of CleanTechnica and the coverage of cleantech? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica member, supporter, technician or ambassador – or a patron on Patreon.