California has set ambitious goals to deploy 5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2030 and 250,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by 2025. To support these objectives, PlugShare constructed 13 EV charging sites in Northern California between 2020 and 2022. These sites are strategically located in Smith River, Orick, Fortuna, Crescent City, Eureka, Miranda, Leggett, Willits, Hopland, Healdsburg, Santa Nella, Los Banos, and Chowchilla, enhancing the EV infrastructure along key transportation corridors.
The installation process encompassed site acquisition, design and engineering, permitting, construction, utility coordination, activation on the PlugShare network, and the implementation of highway and wayfinding signage. Over a six-month reporting period in 2024, these charging stations collectively facilitated 15,000 charging sessions, delivering approximately 300,000 kWh of electricity. This energy enabled over 900,000 miles of travel, displaced more than 35,000 gallons of gasoline, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 280 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent.
Key insights from this project include the importance of educating potential site hosts about EV charging benefits; the necessity of streamlining the permitting process, as mandated by AB 1236, to prevent delays; the variability in the interpretation of California’s EV charging station accessibility regulations across jurisdictions; the challenges in coordinating with utilities for timely energization; the scarcity of contractors experienced in charging station installations in rural areas; the significant impact of demand charges on the financial viability for station owners; and the advantages of combining incentive programs to enhance cost efficiency.
