In what has quickly become one of the nation's leading and most rapidly executed large-scale electric vehicle charging programs, Eversource has accelerated its 2018 commitment to install EV charging infrastructure at up to 400 locations across Massachusetts. The energy company has enabled 2,700 EV ports since 2018 and is expecting to reach its goal of 3,500 a year ahead of schedule. Through this "Make Ready" program, Eversource is helping reduce range anxiety and boost customer confidence in electric vehicles as the infrastructure to support their choice becomes more visibly ubiquitous.

"Our program is helping the commonwealth achieve its goal of having 300,000 electric cars on the road by 2025," said Eversource EV Lead James Cater. "EV charging infrastructure supports our commitment to environmental sustainability and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as transportation accounts for more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the state."

Eversource's EV charging program provides non-residential customers with resources that greatly reduce the cost of installing EV charging stations. The energy company covers all the associated infrastructure costs and implementation needed to install charging stations - which generally accounts for 50-90% of the total cost. The customer only needs to purchase and install the actual chargers.

Through the "Make Ready" program, Eversource has also exceeded its goal of placing up to ten percent of sites in Environmental Justice Communities (EJCs), where the energy company also pays for the chargers and their installation, with almost 20% of installed sites located in EJCs.

As a by-product, the EV charging station initiative has helped to establish the EV market in New England. Eversource has worked closely with EV charging station manufacturers, distributors and installers to create more accessible EV infrastructure distribution channels to build the ecosystem from scratch to support the rapid pace at which Eversource is laying infrastructure. The energy company has also worked with other stakeholders to improve the continued development of EV infrastructure and ensure that all drivers in Massachusetts can benefit from transportation electrification. Utility representatives, including Eversource, are now a part of the transportation conversation.

"Voltrek has partnered with Eversource on its EV infrastructure program from the beginning, and we've seen firsthand how this program has stimulated interest in EV charging," said Voltrek Founder and CEO Kathleen Connors. "We're a Massachusetts-based firm that has installed more than 2,500 EV charging stations across the Northeast, and Eversource's program has been great for our business and for everyone who supports the acceleration of the EV industry."

Source: Eversource Energy