On Oct. 16, the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative, Gov. Jerry Brown and a diverse group of more than 40 California corporate leaders, public sector partners and industry leaders met at DRIVE THE DREAM 2015 to announce new commitments and initiatives aimed at accelerating the continued adoption of plug-in electric vehicles and workplace charging in California.
Under Gov. Brown’s leadership, California has set the most aggressive clean transportation goals in the country, including creating a charging network to handle 1 million electric vehicles by 2020. Businesses and public sector partners have collaborated to initiate innovative programs and policies to enhance workplace charging, fleet vehicles and provide incentives to employees for the purchase of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).
“California is known for setting trends for the rest of the nation and the world and DRIVE THE DREAM 2015 is no exception,” said Janea Scott, commissioner for the California Energy Commission and chairman of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative. “Workplace charging is a key component to encouraging more drivers to choose electric vehicles. The significant commitment and investment employers made today, and that we hope additional employers will make, to bring electric vehicle charging to California workplaces can help accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles.”
The event, hosted by Creative Artists Agency and Century Park and sponsored by Chevrolet, Southern California Edison, NRG, Pacific Gas and Electric, ChargePoint and San Diego Gas & Electric, culminated with a press conference featuring Gov. Brown. DRIVE THE DREAM 2015 showcased the latest plug-in electric vehicles and charging solutions. The Chevrolet Bolt EV concept car, which will go on sale in California in late 2016, was among the lineup of vehicles on display. The event also featured new technology and programs that are available to California consumers and businesses to spur continued investment and growth in the PEV market.
“Major California employers have made significant sustainability commitments to plug-in electric vehicles at DRIVE THE DREAM 2015,” said Christine Kehoe, California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative executive director. “With their leadership, major investments in workplace charging, electric vehicle fleet purchases and employee incentives are part of a transportation transformation. PEV Collaborative member organizations, including the automotive industry, electric utilities, charging service providers and others, also welcome renewed commitments from DRIVE THE DREAM 2013 participants.”
Significant new investments by companies and public sector partners that were announced at the event included the expansion of vehicle charging stations, purchase of PEVs in fleets and employee incentive programs to help increase investment in California, add jobs, improve air quality and reduce reliance on oil.
