Latest news with #Empact
CBS News
04-04-2025
- CBS News
3 years after Sacramento's K Street shooting, what has city done to prevent future tragedies?
SACRAMENTO — Thursday marked three years since Sacramento's deadly K Street shooting . Six people were killed and twelve others were hurt. Dandrae Martin and Mtula Payton are accused of being among the rival gang members who squared off in the shooting. Martin's brother, Smiley, was also charged but died inside the jail . The trial has been postponed until after June as defense attorneys want it moved out of Sacramento County because of widespread media attention. Fresh flowers and candles marked the spot where the city's deadliest mass shooting occurred. "It's a horrible thing to happen to our community," said Leia Schenk, the founder of the anti-violence group Empact. "It's a horrible thing to happen to the downtown nightlife, which will never be the same." Schenk continues helping family members who lost loved ones in the shooting as they attend the criminal court hearings. "These families have to come in that courtroom month in and month out, and they have to relive it over and over," she said. Schenk believes more work needs to be done to prevent these types of tragedies. "I don't think anything has changed," she said. "We still have gun violence." In response to the mass shooting, the City of Sacramento created a new office of nighttime economy to work on improving security. "That was such an unfortunate event, but since that time, we've really had some really great events," said Tina Lee-Vogt, the director of the office. Lee-Vogt said that people shouldn't be concerned about visiting downtown. "Every weekend, we have tens of thousands of people who go to our different locations, have a great time and come home safely," she said. "And so our office has been really good at educating folks and being a really good resource, and being a liaison between the city in our businesses to operate safely." Since the mass shooting, there have been a number of other violent crimes along the K Street corridor, including a fatal stabbing outside the Golden 1 Center just before a Christian rock concert. Groups like Empact say the city needs to put more effort into stopping gangs and getting guns off the streets. "If you're not dealing with the root cause, then you get nowhere," Schenk said. There's also concern that police patrols and violence prevention programs could see cuts this year due to Sacramento's budget deficit.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EVgo Teams Up with This Automaker on DCFC Stations in California
Toyota and EVgo launch the first of a series of co-branded DC fast-charging stations, as part of its Empact agenda announced in 2023 aiming to bring stations to underserved communities. The first co-branded stations have spots for eight cars, with each stall featuring 350-kW chargers. The DCFC stations will be operated and owned by EVgo. Two years after Toyota revealed its "Empact" agenda to improve EV charging in underserved communities, the automaker along with EVgo opened the first of a series of DC fast-charging stations in Sacramento and in Baldwin Park, California. Each of the co-branded stations can charge eight EVs at the same time, and each stall will feature 350-kW fast chargers. The stations will still be operated and owned by EVgo. The new stations themselves will be located in areas where there are ample choices for restaurants, grocery stores, and other types of shopping, so unlike in the early years of EV charging these stations won't be tucked away in some obscure corner of a mall parking lot. Toyota's Empact plan has focused on three main pillars in bringing DC fast-charging to communities that had often been overlooked in the early years of EV station development: providing affordable mobility solutions, access to EV charging, and reducing carbon emissions. "Our vision will be our guide as we work with local and state officials to identify communities where Empact might help address issues related to EV charging access and affordability," Christopher Reynolds, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Corporate Resources, Toyota Motor North America, said at the time of Empact plan's launch. As part of this effort Toyota has been working with cities to find badly needed and particularly suitable locations, including those near multi-family housing, that might have been largely ignored a decade ago. In announcing the Empact plan, the automaker also noted that DC fast-charging often costs up to three times the rate of charging at home with a slower system. Overall, station-building efforts are slowly entering a different era, with more focus on driver convenience if not an actual convenience store on the site of a charging station. Stations operators are still skeptical of building new on-site retail, aside from a few experiments with vending machines. Various station developers still rely on existing, nearby restaurants and shopping locations, skipping typical gas station features like bathrooms and a protective canopy over the chargers. So some corners and costs are still being cut at many stations when it comes to protection from weather and other convenience and safety features, even though solar canopies are slowly being adopted by a handful of station builders with the capability to add energy to battery energy storage systems (BESS). "Together with EVgo, we are supporting broader access to charging infrastructure for all battery EV drivers, including those driving Toyota and Lexus BEVs," said Toyota Motor North America's General Manager of EV Charging Solutions, James George. It will take some time to feel the impact of Toyota and EVgo's initiative, and it will also take some time for American buyers to try Toyota EVs that aren't the bZ4X. The EV era is just getting started for Toyota in the US. Is charging infrastructure the main barrier to EV adoption at the moment, or is it other factors like the prices of new EVs? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EVgo Opens First Fast Charging Stations Deployed Through Toyota's "Empact" Vision
The companies collaborated on high-power DC fast charger deployment in key markets to increase public charging infrastructure LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO) ("EVgo" or the "Company"), one of the nation's largest providers of public fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), and Toyota Motor North America, Inc. ("Toyota") today announced the opening of the first DC fast charging (DCFC) stations in Baldwin Park and Sacramento, California, built through Toyota's "Empact" vision. The new co-branded stations, owned and operated by EVgo, each serve up to eight vehicles simultaneously and exclusively feature 350kW fast chargers. "Availability of charging is essential as consumers consider buying or leasing an EV. As automakers offer more electric vehicle choices, EVgo will continue deploying fast chargers for current and prospective EV drivers," said Executive Vice President of Growth at EVgo, Scott Levitan. "Collaboration with automakers has been core to our expansion over the last several years, and EVgo is grateful for the continued support from Toyota." First announced in April 2023, Toyota's "Empact" vision aims to aid the transition of underserved communities to a future of electrified vehicle transport as part of Toyota's broader mission of providing "mobility for all." The strategy centers on three fundamental areas: access to charging, providing affordable mobility solutions, and reducing carbon emissions. The newly opened stations will help provide convenient access to EV charging for members of the surrounding communities. "Together with EVgo, we are supporting broader access to charging infrastructure for all battery EV drivers, including those driving Toyota and Lexus BEVs. We aim to ensure that customers find the newly opened stations both convenient and efficient for their charging needs," said Toyota Motor North America's General Manager of EV Charging Solutions, James George. The new stations are located in amenity-rich areas featuring convenient access to grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls and other activities. In addition to the infrastructure collaboration, EVgo also recently extended its charging program with Toyota that provides one year of complimentary charging for drivers who buy or lease the 2025 Toyota bZ4X battery EV compact crossover sport utility vehicle. Customers can use the Toyota App on their mobile device, which will also help them locate EVgo stations and initiate the complimentary charging offer. "Toyota and EVgo's action to bring advanced fast chargers to Sacramento is an important milestone," said State Senator Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento. "Fast charging stations provide critical infrastructure that will amplify the use of clean energy transportation across Senate District 8. This initiative is a win for our environment and for the future of sustainable mobility in Sacramento." "We are excited to receive a new, EV fast charging station in Baldwin Park, which will support our city's residents and visitors," said State Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park. "Infrastructure investments like this are extremely beneficial to those in the region needing a place to charge their vehicle and a positive step in air quality clean up." For more information about the EVgo network, visit For more information on Toyota's electrified vehicle offerings, please visit About EVgo EVgo (Nasdaq: EVGO) is one of the nation's leading public fast charging providers. With more than 1,100 fast charging stations across over 40 states, EVgo strategically deploys localized and accessible charging infrastructure by partnering with leading businesses across the U.S., including retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations, rideshare operators, and autonomous vehicle companies. At its dedicated Innovation Lab, EVgo performs extensive interoperability testing and has ongoing technical collaborations with leading automakers and industry partners to advance the EV charging industry and deliver a seamless charging experience. About Toyota Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships. Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota's plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options. For more information about Toyota, visit View source version on Contacts EVgo Contacts For Investors:investors@ For Media:press@ Toyota Media Contact Jacob
