Latest news with #EVinfrastructure
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
$5 million in grants awarded to expand Colorado's EV infrastructure
Millions in grant awards will be allocated to create new fast-charging ports across Colorado for electric vehicles. The Colorado Energy Office said $5 million in state funding will go towards 56 new ports, which will be located at nine different locations across the state. Officials said the additions will increase Colorado's public fast-charger network by 4%. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said that many Coloradans have transitioned to electric vehicles, and supporting EV infrastructure in the state will help combat increasing costs and make their use more affordable. Due to pauses in federal funding, the governor's office said this round of grants utilized state funds. "More than ever, we are facing daunting federal hurdles in our efforts to make electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure accessible for every Coloradan," said Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor. "Addressing these challenges is so important because the transition to electric vehicles lowers costs, improves air quality, and helps us meet our greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals. The new chargers will be built at: These new chargers are expected to be available in 2026 and 2027. This is the seventh round of awards for the Direct-Current Fast-Charging Plazas Program. The program has completed 13 sites across the state thus far. Toor said his office remains focused on building Colorado's EV infrastructure and hopes to be able to support 940,000 light-duty EVs in the state by 2030.
Auto Blog
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Tesla Opens Massive Off-Grid Supercharger Oasis in California
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Tesla has officially flipped the switch on the first half of its new 'Oasis' Supercharger site in Lost Hills, California — and it's not just another row of charging stalls. This is a fully off-grid, solar-powered megasite, quietly breaking ground on what might be the future of roadside EV infrastructure. Source: Tesla — X Solar Power, No Strings Attached With 84 out of 168 planned V4 Superchargers now operational, the Oasis site delivers up to 325 kW per stall using nothing but sun and storage. Tesla installed 11 megawatts of solar generation and ten Megapacks — each capable of storing vast amounts of energy — allowing the station to run entirely independent of the grid. Only 1.5 MW of grid power is tied in, essentially as a backup. It's a long-teased concept made real: a sustainable, scalable energy ecosystem with no utility company in sight. The location isn't accidental either. Set along the I-5 corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the site caters to one of the busiest EV travel routes in the U.S. The first phase went live just ahead of Fourth of July weekend, giving Tesla drivers clean, fast charging during peak travel. Twelve of the active stalls are pull-through units, accommodating vehicles with trailers or boats — a nod to Tesla's growing truck and SUV audience. Source: Tesla — X The Road to Becoming the Biggest The rest of the site, including the remaining 84 stalls and a planned driver lounge, is scheduled to open later this year. Once complete, Oasis will likely become the largest Supercharger station in the world — a symbol of what Tesla can build when it isn't tangled in red tape or waiting for local power utilities to catch up. The move also arrives at a time of shifting fortunes for Tesla's wider Supercharger network. In recent weeks, some stations have reportedly disappeared from maps along major U.S. routes, raising questions about infrastructure strategy and local disputes. Source: Tesla — X Rivals Are Catching Up Tesla's competitors aren't sitting still either. Charging technology is evolving rapidly, and new rivals are starting to surpass Tesla in raw speed and energy delivery. One such case involves a recent breakthrough that's pushing charging times even lower, making Tesla's own hardware look slightly dated by comparison. Still, while others chase specs, Tesla continues expanding its reach. More automakers are joining the Supercharger ecosystem — including legacy brands now aligning with Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS), reinforcing the company's role as gatekeeper in the EV transition. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Source: Tesla — X A Blueprint for the Future What makes Oasis so compelling isn't just its scale or solar credentials. It's the proof-of-concept it represents — an off-grid, high-capacity station built quickly and without relying on overburdened utilities. If it works in Lost Hills, it can work in dozens of other places across the country. Tesla's Oasis may not just be the biggest charging site yet — it might also be the smartest. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
One of the world's top oil producers is making a push into electric vehicles
Electric vehicles are a common sight on roads across the world — but not everywhere. In Saudi Arabia, electric vehicles (EVs) account for just over 1% of overall car sales, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) 'eMobility Outlook 2024: KSA Edition,' published in September 2024. Globally, about 18% of all cars sold in 2023 were electric, according to the International Energy Agency. There are several roadblocks to the rollout of cleaner cars in the desert kingdom, but things are changing quickly. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) is at the forefront of that transformation. EVIQ was founded in late 2023 as a joint venture between the country's sovereign wealth fund — the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — and Saudi Electricity Company. By the end of 2023, there were around 285 public charging points in the country, according to the PwC report, mostly slow chargers. In January 2024, EVIQ opened its first fast charging station in the country's capital, Riyadh. By 2030, it plans to have 5,000 fast chargers installed across 1,000 locations. 'Very few people are willing to buy an electric vehicle without having the comfort of seeing infrastructure being available,' EVIQ CEO Mohammad Gazzaz, told CNN. 'We're paving the way.' Today, EVs are mostly purchased by people that 'can charge at home with their private wall boxes,' said Heiko Seitz, Global eMobility Leader, PwC Middle East, and an author of the eMobility report. A lack of charging stations isn't the only reason for the slow uptake of EVs in Saudi. In 2024 more than 60% of models available cost more than $65,000, according to PwC's report, while nearly 73% of gasoline-powered models cost less than that. Generous fuel subsidies mean a liter of gasoline, about a quarter of a gallon, currently costs Saudi drivers around 60 cents. EV batteries can struggle with the temperatures typical of a Saudi summer, and the additional energy needed for cooling them can significantly impact their charging speed and range. And the country is vast — just over a fifth of the size of the US — with the distance between its two largest cities more than 950 kilometers (almost 600 miles), longer than the average range of most EVs. But the country has ambitious plans for reducing its dependence on oil revenues and its carbon emissions. Oil accounted for 60% of government revenue in 2024, with crude oil and natural gas accounting for more than 20% of the country's GDP over the same period. It wants 30% of the cars in its capital Riyadh to be electric by 2030. But Saudi isn't just adopting EVs, it's 'building an entire industrial ecosystem' around them, said Seitz. The country is embracing 'eMobility as a strategic lever to decarbonize, diversify its economy, and localize manufacturing at scale.' That includes plans to become an EV manufacturing hub. PIF is the largest shareholder in the US-automaker Lucid, which in 2023 opened the first car manufacturing facility in the country. CEER, a joint venture between PIF and the Taiwanese company Foxconn, plans to launch its first Saudi-produced EV by 2026. And a joint venture between PIF and Hyundai has broken ground on a manufacturing plant in the country. Major EV producers are now selling in the country. China's BYD opened its first showroom there in May 2024, and in April, Tesla launched in Saudi Arabia. Seitz said the introduction of Chinese models is likely to help drive prices down. BYD's Saudi website lists its Atto 3 model with a starting price of approximately $27,000. More than 40% of Saudi consumers are considering purchasing an EV in the next three years, according to PwC. Today, there are EVIQ chargers in Riyadh and Jeddah. In April, the company rolled out its first highway EV charging station. 'It's still really foundational work,' said Gazzaz. He said that EVIQ is targeting 50 to 60 new charging sites this year, including in smaller cities like Mecca and Medina. By the end of 2026, Gazzaz anticipates that the country will have a 'minimum viable network.' 'We're not talking only tier-one, but even tier-two cities, and covering some of those main highways,' he said. 'Ultimately we're trying to cover about 70 to 80% of travel requirements across the Kingdom by 2026.' Gazzaz declined to share how much would need to be invested to reach the targets. Seitz said that the country's official target of 30% electric cars in Riyadh is likely to be met, but that 'an additional push' might be required to make EVs a mass product for the entire country. A survey published in May 2024 by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, and University College London, concluded that large-scale uptake of EVs in Riyadh would likely require the government to introduce financial incentives such as VAT exemption for new vehicles, subsidized charging, and free installation of home chargers, 'at least in early stages of deployment.' The government says it has introduced some financial incentives and subsidies for EV buyers. Better infrastructure will help push forward the country's EV revolution, experts say. 'EV prices are falling, model options are growing, and government signals are clear — yet range anxiety remains,' said Seitz. 'Public charging is the main gap, and it's now a top priority to fix.'
CNN
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNN
One of the world's top oil producers is making a push into electric vehicles
Electric vehicles are a common sight on roads across the world — but not everywhere. In Saudi Arabia, electric vehicles (EVs) account for just over 1% of overall car sales, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) 'eMobility Outlook 2024: KSA Edition,' published in September 2024. Globally, about 18% of all cars sold in 2023 were electric, according to the International Energy Agency. There are several roadblocks to the rollout of cleaner cars in the desert kingdom, but things are changing quickly. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) is at the forefront of that transformation. EVIQ was founded in late 2023 as a joint venture between the country's sovereign wealth fund — the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — and Saudi Electricity Company. By the end of 2023, there were around 285 public charging points in the country, according to the PwC report, mostly slow chargers. In January 2024, EVIQ opened its first fast charging station in the country's capital, Riyadh. By 2030, it plans to have 5,000 fast chargers installed across 1,000 locations. 'Very few people are willing to buy an electric vehicle without having the comfort of seeing infrastructure being available,' EVIQ CEO Mohammad Gazzaz, told CNN. 'We're paving the way.' Today, EVs are mostly purchased by people that 'can charge at home with their private wall boxes,' said Heiko Seitz, Global eMobility Leader, PwC Middle East, and an author of the eMobility report. A lack of charging stations isn't the only reason for the slow uptake of EVs in Saudi. In 2024 more than 60% of models available cost more than $65,000, according to PwC's report, while nearly 73% of gasoline-powered models cost less than that. Generous fuel subsidies mean a liter of gasoline, about a quarter of a gallon, currently costs Saudi drivers around 60 cents. EV batteries can struggle with the temperatures typical of a Saudi summer, and the additional energy needed for cooling them can significantly impact their charging speed and range. And the country is vast — just over a fifth of the size of the US — with the distance between its two largest cities more than 950 kilometers (almost 600 miles), longer than the average range of most EVs. But the country has ambitious plans for reducing its dependence on oil revenues and its carbon emissions. Oil accounted for 60% of government revenue in 2024, with crude oil and natural gas accounting for more than 20% of the country's GDP over the same period. It wants 30% of the cars in its capital Riyadh to be electric by 2030. But Saudi isn't just adopting EVs, it's 'building an entire industrial ecosystem' around them, said Seitz. The country is embracing 'eMobility as a strategic lever to decarbonize, diversify its economy, and localize manufacturing at scale.' That includes plans to become an EV manufacturing hub. PIF is the largest shareholder in the US-automaker Lucid, which in 2023 opened the first car manufacturing facility in the country. CEER, a joint venture between PIF and the Taiwanese company Foxconn, plans to launch its first Saudi-produced EV by 2026. And a joint venture between PIF and Hyundai has broken ground on a manufacturing plant in the country. Major EV producers are now selling in the country. China's BYD opened its first showroom there in May 2024, and in April, Tesla launched in Saudi Arabia. Seitz said the introduction of Chinese models is likely to help drive prices down. BYD's Saudi website lists its Atto 3 model with a starting price of approximately $27,000. More than 40% of Saudi consumers are considering purchasing an EV in the next three years, according to PwC. Today, there are EVIQ chargers in Riyadh and Jeddah. In April, the company rolled out its first highway EV charging station. 'It's still really foundational work,' said Gazzaz. He said that EVIQ is targeting 50 to 60 new charging sites this year, including in smaller cities like Mecca and Medina. By the end of 2026, Gazzaz anticipates that the country will have a 'minimum viable network.' 'We're not talking only tier-one, but even tier-two cities, and covering some of those main highways,' he said. 'Ultimately we're trying to cover about 70 to 80% of travel requirements across the Kingdom by 2026.' Gazzaz declined to share how much would need to be invested to reach the targets. Seitz said that the country's official target of 30% electric cars in Riyadh is likely to be met, but that 'an additional push' might be required to make EVs a mass product for the entire country. A survey published in May 2024 by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, and University College London, concluded that large-scale uptake of EVs in Riyadh would likely require the government to introduce financial incentives such as VAT exemption for new vehicles, subsidized charging, and free installation of home chargers, 'at least in early stages of deployment.' The government says it has introduced some financial incentives and subsidies for EV buyers. Better infrastructure will help push forward the country's EV revolution, experts say. 'EV prices are falling, model options are growing, and government signals are clear — yet range anxiety remains,' said Seitz. 'Public charging is the main gap, and it's now a top priority to fix.'
CNN
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNN
One of the world's top oil producers is making a push into electric vehicles
Electric vehicles are a common sight on roads across the world — but not everywhere. In Saudi Arabia, electric vehicles (EVs) account for just over 1% of overall car sales, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) 'eMobility Outlook 2024: KSA Edition,' published in September 2024. Globally, about 18% of all cars sold in 2023 were electric, according to the International Energy Agency. There are several roadblocks to the rollout of cleaner cars in the desert kingdom, but things are changing quickly. The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ) is at the forefront of that transformation. EVIQ was founded in late 2023 as a joint venture between the country's sovereign wealth fund — the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — and Saudi Electricity Company. By the end of 2023, there were around 285 public charging points in the country, according to the PwC report, mostly slow chargers. In January 2024, EVIQ opened its first fast charging station in the country's capital, Riyadh. By 2030, it plans to have 5,000 fast chargers installed across 1,000 locations. 'Very few people are willing to buy an electric vehicle without having the comfort of seeing infrastructure being available,' EVIQ CEO Mohammad Gazzaz, told CNN. 'We're paving the way.' Today, EVs are mostly purchased by people that 'can charge at home with their private wall boxes,' said Heiko Seitz, Global eMobility Leader, PwC Middle East, and an author of the eMobility report. A lack of charging stations isn't the only reason for the slow uptake of EVs in Saudi. In 2024 more than 60% of models available cost more than $65,000, according to PwC's report, while nearly 73% of gasoline-powered models cost less than that. Generous fuel subsidies mean a liter of gasoline, about a quarter of a gallon, currently costs Saudi drivers around 60 cents. EV batteries can struggle with the temperatures typical of a Saudi summer, and the additional energy needed for cooling them can significantly impact their charging speed and range. And the country is vast — just over a fifth of the size of the US — with the distance between its two largest cities more than 950 kilometers (almost 600 miles), longer than the average range of most EVs. But the country has ambitious plans for reducing its dependence on oil revenues and its carbon emissions. Oil accounted for 60% of government revenue in 2024, with crude oil and natural gas accounting for more than 20% of the country's GDP over the same period. It wants 30% of the cars in its capital Riyadh to be electric by 2030. But Saudi isn't just adopting EVs, it's 'building an entire industrial ecosystem' around them, said Seitz. The country is embracing 'eMobility as a strategic lever to decarbonize, diversify its economy, and localize manufacturing at scale.' That includes plans to become an EV manufacturing hub. PIF is the largest shareholder in the US-automaker Lucid, which in 2023 opened the first car manufacturing facility in the country. CEER, a joint venture between PIF and the Taiwanese company Foxconn, plans to launch its first Saudi-produced EV by 2026. And a joint venture between PIF and Hyundai has broken ground on a manufacturing plant in the country. Major EV producers are now selling in the country. China's BYD opened its first showroom there in May 2024, and in April, Tesla launched in Saudi Arabia. Seitz said the introduction of Chinese models is likely to help drive prices down. BYD's Saudi website lists its Atto 3 model with a starting price of approximately $27,000. More than 40% of Saudi consumers are considering purchasing an EV in the next three years, according to PwC. Today, there are EVIQ chargers in Riyadh and Jeddah. In April, the company rolled out its first highway EV charging station. 'It's still really foundational work,' said Gazzaz. He said that EVIQ is targeting 50 to 60 new charging sites this year, including in smaller cities like Mecca and Medina. By the end of 2026, Gazzaz anticipates that the country will have a 'minimum viable network.' 'We're not talking only tier-one, but even tier-two cities, and covering some of those main highways,' he said. 'Ultimately we're trying to cover about 70 to 80% of travel requirements across the Kingdom by 2026.' Gazzaz declined to share how much would need to be invested to reach the targets. Seitz said that the country's official target of 30% electric cars in Riyadh is likely to be met, but that 'an additional push' might be required to make EVs a mass product for the entire country. A survey published in May 2024 by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, and University College London, concluded that large-scale uptake of EVs in Riyadh would likely require the government to introduce financial incentives such as VAT exemption for new vehicles, subsidized charging, and free installation of home chargers, 'at least in early stages of deployment.' The government says it has introduced some financial incentives and subsidies for EV buyers. Better infrastructure will help push forward the country's EV revolution, experts say. 'EV prices are falling, model options are growing, and government signals are clear — yet range anxiety remains,' said Seitz. 'Public charging is the main gap, and it's now a top priority to fix.'
