For immediate release
Contact: Wanda Heard, Sr. Public Relations and Advocacy Manager
GRID Alternatives
510. 877.5795
510. 877.5795
January 17, 2025, Oakland, CA GRID Alternatives was awarded $1.5 million from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) Ride and Drive Electric grant in January 2024 to advance Community-Driven Models for Electric Vehicle Charging Deployment by creating a national Community of Practice with the utility sector in partnership with the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA). SEPA is an educational non-profit that works with its member utilities and other key stakeholders to identify and scale actionable clean energy solutions, including electric transportation. This Community of Practice will establish replicable models for equitable EV infrastructure access by extending existing low-income electricity discounts to public charging stations nationwide. As a part of GRID's effort to equitably connect clean energy solutions to everyone, the goal is to make it easier for people and communities to access electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging, and other clean mobility options. GRID's strategy goes beyond direct service models, leveraging all assets and partnerships to achieve community-led solutions at scale. SEPA will connect its utility members to this effort to broadly share these innovative approaches to equitable EV access across the industry. The grant was awarded to be utilized over 24 months.
“This award comes at a crucial time as the U.S. builds out a national network of EV chargers. With this grant, we’ll be able to partner with the utility sector to deploy community-driven pilots to bridge the public EV charging gap and ensure that everyone can afford to ride and drive electric,” said Rachael Aptowitz, Senior Program Manager for GRID.
Home charging is convenient and affordable; however, renters and multifamily housing residents typically cannot charge at home. Income-qualified families could also charge at a discount by participating in existing utility low-income electric rate programs at home. Instead, renters and multifamily housing residents face the prospect of being dependent on public charging, which typically costs 2-6 times more than what it costs to charge at home and does not offer income-qualified discounts like home charging.
“GRID envisions a future where our communities are freed from high gas prices and where the transition to electric transportation is also a transition for equity - a future where everyone has access to transportation fuel at a price they can afford, regardless of their income,” added Zach Franklin, Strategic Impact Officer for GRID.
To solve this challenge, GRID has successfully piloted the country's first primary offering to provide income-qualified EV drivers who can't charge at home with access to subsidized public charging in partnership with the California Air Resources Board. GRID is looking to develop a national consortium to build more robust, scalable models in collaboration with various utility companies, including publicly-owned utilities, investor-owned utilities, and rural electric cooperatives. GRID's long-term vision is the equivalent of an EBT benefits card or SNAP program for EV charging, which will afford everyone access to EV charging.
This work will be rolled out in three phases:
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Develop a portfolio of pilot projects to offer income-qualified EV owners discounted access to public charging by convening and working with a diverse range of utility companies and other key stakeholders such as EVSPs and government agencies
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Deploy these pilots in partnership with a portfolio of utility companies and communities representing a diverse cross-section of the current market, including different utility types, communities, and regions with varying levels of EV adoption.
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Disseminate the results of these pilots in the form of replicable models that can be brought to scale, along with key lessons learned, to utilities, communities, and policymakers across the country.
GRID envisions a portfolio of pilots representing the diversity of EV markets nationwide. GRID also plans to focus on a cluster of pilots in California and Colorado, which have a diverse range of communities and utility types with solid income-qualified EV ownership.
“SEPA is pleased to partner with GRID Alternatives on this innovative project, which addresses a critical barrier –affordable access to charging –to equitable EV adoption,” said Sheri Givens, President and CEO of SEPA. “By fostering collaboration through the Community of Practice, we aim to create scalable solutions that ensure income-qualified families have access to affordable public charging options, bringing us closer to an inclusive, clean future.”
If you’re interested in joining the Community of Practice, visit our website or reach out to SEPA. SEPA will conduct workshops about this topic with utility stakeholders and hold a recruitment webinar on Monday, February 3rd, at 2 p.m. EST for interested utility stakeholders to join this project’s Community of Practice.
Key partners collaborating with GRID and SEPA on this project include Drive Clean Colorado, EVNoire, the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA), the Colorado Energy Office, the City of Denver, Ava Community Energy (Ava), the Community Housing Development Corporation, Forth, and EVgo.
Key supporters of this project include General Motors and the Rivian Foundation.
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About GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives is an international, U.S.-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that builds community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. GRID works in the U.S., Mexico, Nepal, and Nicaragua and has installed solar photovoltaic systems on more than 29,500 homes and affordable housing developments in underserved communities while providing more than 33,200 individuals with workforce development training. GRID also provides clean mobility solutions and battery storage and is a leading voice in low-income solar policy development in the U.S. Installation Basics Training (IBT), a competency-based certificate program designed to develop the skills most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs and related construction employment fields. Trainees learn solar installation skills, OSHA 10 safety standards, first aid and CPR, and soft skills, including interpersonal communication and dependability, to help job trainees obtain and sustain employment.
About SEPA
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), a 501(c)(3) organization with over 1,000 members,
is dedicated to accelerating the transformation to a clean, affordable, equitable, and resilient
electricity system. By actively shaping the future of the industry, SEPA delivers exceptional
value to its extensive membership through comprehensive research, educational initiatives,
engaging events, and collaborative projects. SEPA plays a vital role in contributing to the
collective efforts towards a clean energy future. For more information, please visit