Is There A Secret To Making Electric Car Charging More Accessible? Volta Thinks So...

What comes first in an area - EVs or public charging? With the exception of chargers installed by local governments, most charging networks have only been built out into areas with existing significant EV adoption.
But one network in particular uses a different business model to allow them to expand charging into areas where there might not already be demand for chargers. It's a model that it states has allowed it to spread its network in a way that can encourage adoption from those who don't know about EV charging.
So today we're talking to Drew Bennett, EVP of Network Operations at Volta about how its network of often free to use chargers has grown, and how Volta sees its place in the network of charging infrastructure.
------
Presenter: Kate Walton-Elliott
Guest: Drew Bennett, EVP of Network Operations, Volta.
On-Location Audio: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Editor, Colorist: Michael Horton
Art and Animation: Erin Carlie
Producer: Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
© Transport Evolved LLC, 2023
----
Volta provided us with a free charge (and a cup of coffee!) on our recent road trip.
-----
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @transportevolved
This video was made possible thanks to the kind donations of our supporters on Patreon and Ko-fi. Join them in supporting us.
Support us on Patreon: / transportevolved
Buy the team a coffee -- or a meal!
ko-fi.com/tran...
Donate using bitcoin: BC1QRZRGCCXUKPDZ2DZ9KX9JYJXMZDYHYGFZ0MN4WH
Support us by buying some merch at www.redbubble....
Follow our 'second' channel - Transport Evolved Take Two, at / transportevolvedtake2
Join our Discord server at / discord
Follow the show on Mastodon: mastodon.trans...
Use the TE Aptera referral code - i.refs.cc/zz56EbIi - but watch our explainer video FIRST: • Aptera is Back. It's a...
Sign up for EnergySage at www.energysage...

[@ericpotter7954]

14:04 Yes! Top-up on a level 2 while you enjoy a movie, I wish more theaters did that.

[@michaelrch]

When we first got an EV in 2019 we didn't have a charger at home. We heard there was a shopping centre with a supermarket 20 minutes drive away that had a few free 50kw fast chargers. So we shopped there once or twice a week for about 3 months. As a family of 4, we spent a LOT at those ships in those 3 months. I am certain the deal made sense for the shops who presumably collectively paid for our charging.

[@pinkelephants1421]

Fantastic content. I was a little surprised that Volta hadn't, or at least didn't (appear to) have at this stage, thought to integrate solar and storage into their business model to keep down the cost of charging to drivers. From a retailer's perspective, being able to offer shelter from both sun, rain or snow to their customers would serve as an additional incentive to patronise those businesses.

[@roberteisenbach624]

Like always amazing video!

[@JorgeCastro_inf]

Comments again? Thanks a lot 🙏

[@ferkeap]

No, a waste of material/energy And another huge addition to light pollution.

[@jamesvandamme7786]

So they should also turn off the parking lot lights? The power consumption of a screen is pretty low compared to the charger, so I dunno where you're going with that.

[@ferkeap]

@@jamesvandamme7786 What aboutism Streetlights should always be downwards and can be regulated with iot and such. This screen and some charger don't take my points in consideration.