• by Tanya Gazdik , November 10, 2022

Electrify American is investing another nearly $3 million to support four community-based organizations promoting Zero Emission Vehicles awareness in low-income and disadvantaged communities in California. 

The organizations are Breathe SoCal, Ecology Action, Plug In America, and Valley Clean Air Now. More than 100 nonprofit, private and public entities from across California were invited to submit proposals to support brand-neutral ZEV education and awareness.

This effort is part of the company’s broader commitment to environmental, social and governance practices, and supports the existing plan to invest $200 million in California ZEV infrastructure and education programs in the state through mid-2024.

The goal is to support a more equitable transition to electric vehicles and zero tailpipe-emission driving. This year’s initiative will build off previous years' multimillion-dollar funding investments to support digital and in-person education, electric vehicle ride and drive programs, events, potential EV incentives and financing workshops, and grassroots community engagement.

The community-based organizations will focus on home charging education as well as engagement with Electrify America’s $25 million Green City investment to bring charging infrastructure to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and help to start to electrify the tens of thousands of drayage trucks that enter the Port Complex every single day.

Electrify America has invested a total of $400 million in California, with $197.3 million of that in low-income, disadvantaged and underserved California communities by providing education, access, charging infrastructure and services to promote ZEV driving.

Many communities thus far have not had equitable access to the resources that can help adoption of electric vehicles, said Gabriela Herrera Gugiu, corporate social responsibility senior specialist, Electrify America. 

“We believe it’s our responsibility to help create a future where zero emission vehicles can be accessible and affordable to Californians and communities across the country,” Gugiu says in a release. 

The company, a subsidiary of Volkswagen of America, recently launched a brand-neutral EV promotion campaign. 

Electrify America LLC, the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., expects to have more than 1,800 total charging stations with over 10,000 chargers in the United States and Canada by 2026.