The electric vehicle revolution is well underway in California, with the number of fast charging stations growing exponentially over the past 12 months. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that there is now one EV fast charging station for every five gas stations in the state, highlighting the rapid pace of development in this area.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, California has led the US in the number of EVs and EV charging stations installed every year since 2016. In December alone, over 105,000 public or shared private EV chargers were installed throughout the state, in addition to over 500,000 home EV chargers.
While the majority of these chargers are slower charges, there are also 10,000 super fast charges available, with plans to increase this number in the coming years. The state has also approved a $2 billion plan to deploy 4,000 more public EV chargers, further expanding the infrastructure for electric vehicles.
In addition to the growth in EV charging stations, California is also seeing a transformation in its energy grid, with solar and batteries playing a key role in powering electric vehicles. With solar energy contributing more than 150% of energy into the grid on some days, excess energy is being stored in batteries and then pumped back into the grid during peak times, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
Overall, the increase in EV charging stations and the shift towards renewable energy sources are not only improving air quality but also reducing the cost of living for residents. As the state continues to invest in EV infrastructure and renewable energy, the future looks bright for electric vehicles in California.
