Volta Inc., an industry-leading electric vehicle (“EV”) charging and media company, announced a collaboration with Tucson Electric Power (“TEP”), an electric utility serving more than 438,000 customers in Southern Arizona, to install critical public EV charging infrastructure in and around disadvantaged communities in the Tucson area. Volta will install eight EV charging stalls at high-traffic locations, such as grocery stores and entertainment venues, to ensure these communities have convenient and affordable charging options. These public options are especially critical for renters (nearly 40 percent of Tucson residents) and residents of multifamily housing (over 30 percent of housing in the U.S.), and others who do not have access to charging at home.1, 2
This collaboration with TEP is an extension of Volta’s Charging For All initiative, through which Volta seeks to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable and easy-to-use public charging. Charging For All is aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 goal, which aims to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Justice40 applies to the $7.5 billion of funding allocated towards public EV charging infrastructure buildout under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
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“By partnering with TEP, Volta is bringing critical EV charging infrastructure to disadvantaged communities in Tucson. This collaboration is a model of how charging network operators, like Volta, can support Justice40 goals now and as federal investments are distributed,” said Brandt Hastings, Chief Commercial Officer at Volta. “Volta continues to prioritize EV charger installations that are accessible to all. This work includes leveraging our PredictEV® infrastructure planning platform, which uses behavioral science and machine learning technology to help commercial property owners, cities, and electric utilities plan EV infrastructure intelligently, efficiently, and equitably.”
The large digital displays integrated into Volta’s chargers grab the attention of everyone who passes by and provide a powerful reminder that public chargers are already available in the community — an important factor when deciding to switch to an EV. These media screens comprise the Volta Media™ Network. By building not just a network of chargers but a dual energy and digital advertising platform, Volta can generate revenue from the moment charging stations are installed.