ev.energy, a prominent electric vehicle (EV) managed charging software platform, has received $41 million in grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) under the “Responsive, Easy Charging Products With Dynamic Signals” (REDWDS) initiative.
The grant aims to democratize access to EV charging infrastructure for all Californians. Leveraging matching funds from select utilities and Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), this initiative aims to enroll EV drivers into managed charging programs.
Additionally, as part of the ChargeWise program, these matched funds will facilitate scaled-managed charging for approximately 275,000 EV drivers across California, with a particular emphasis on supporting disadvantaged communities. Over the course of the next four years, these communities are set to receive over $50 million in incentives collectively.
Melanie Biesecker, Customer Programs Manager at MCE for transportation electrification, lauded the effort between MCE and ev.energy, highlighting its potential to democratize access to grid-friendly charging solutions while advancing the state’s clean energy transition objectives.
ev.energy is slated to kick off Phase 1 of the ChargeWise program in collaboration with MCE, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Peninsula Clean Energy, and Southern California Edison in 2024, enrolling thousands of EV drivers.
Subsequently, Phase 2, scheduled to commence in late 2024, will witness ev.energy’s expansion to encompass 275,000 drivers – equivalent to 5 percent of California’s estimated EV fleet – through partnerships with existing and new California utility and CCA collaborators.
Notably, 50 percent of program participants will hail from disadvantaged communities, as delineated by the CEC.
Nick Woolley, CEO and founder of ev.energy, underscored the significance of the ChargeWise program in setting a global precedent for public-private partnerships geared towards addressing the pressing issue of equitable access to affordable EV charging infrastructure.
With a robust presence spanning North America, Europe, and Australia, ev.energy has facilitated over eight million charging sessions and oversees a virtual power plant comprising more than 120,000 drivers.
The company’s wireless, hardware-agnostic technology has garnered acclaim from over 30 utilities worldwide. ev.energy’s recently raised $33 million in Series B funding round.