National Car Charging (NCC) announced today that it has been selected as a finalist for two prestigious 2024 Colorado business awards by the Denver Business Journal and Colorado Companies to Watch.

With their annual Small Business Awards, the Denver Business Journal (DBJ) recognizes those companies making up 99.5% of all Colorado businesses and employing nearly half of the state's workers. DBJ selected this year’s 23 finalists based on their historical achievements, contributions to the industry and local economy, and their community impact.

Similarly, Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) annually selects finalists from nominated second stage entrepreneurs whom they believe are fueling the state's economic fire through innovation and job creation. CCTW’s 2024 finalists proudly represent companies from all corners of the state and across all the state’s many industries.

All eyes were on Maui today, where the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced the opening of the first electric vehicle charging stations in Hawai’i funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Today’s blessing and dedication of these landmark stations represented a crucial milestone in the NEVI program, transportation electrification and Hawaiʻi's journey towards a sustainable future. The Kahului Park and Ride on Kuihelani Highway now boasts four 150-kilowatt Tritium DC fast chargers, the fastest units in the state open to all EVs.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed tremendous pride in the opening of the first federally funded EV charging stations in the State of Hawai‘i. This move is in line with President Biden's vision to establish a nationwide network of EV chargers, ensuring all Americans benefit from the transition to clean energy.

By Kamala Vanderkolk, Business Development Lead at National Car Charging

Last week Transportation Energy Partners hosted the 18th edition of the Energy Independence Summit in Washington, DC, marking a significant moment in our nation’s journey towards a sustainable future, emphasizing the importance of decarbonizing transportation, improving air quality, and promoting environmental equity. In attendance were leaders of the nation’s Clean Cities Coalitions, partner organizations and leading clean transportation industry stakeholders from around the country, who, alongside state delegates, converged on the Capitol city. Their collective goal was to accelerate strategies for advancing markets for clean fuels and vehicles in addition to highlighting the crucial role of clean energy in policy areas such as job creation, community development, and clean fuels. Among the participants were team members from National Car Charging (NCC), a featured partner of Drive Clean Colorado (DCC).

By Jim Burness, CEO & Founder, National Car Charging.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of press around Hertz's decision to scale back its electric vehicle (EV) initiative. The media has mostly attributed the cutback on depressed resale values of used EVs and their high repair costs for damage. However, I’ve yet to see an article about what I suspect is another key culprit - their rollout strategy.

Before we dive in, let me state up front that I do applaud Hertz for integrating EVs into their fleets. As a category leader, it only makes sense for them to lead the rental market into and through the electrification transition and to come to market as boldly as they did. It was a huge undertaking. Unfortunately, there were some fatal flaws in their strategy as we’ll delve into below.

Change, whether it’s a transition from gas to electric vehicles, from landlines to cellular phones, or even broadcast TV to cable and then to streaming … it’s an adjustment and not necessarily something that naturally comes easily to everyone.

DENVER, January 30, 2024 — The nation’s largest and most experienced independent electric vehicle (EV) charging station reseller and installer, National Car Charging (NCC), announced today that they have been exclusively awarded a multi-year charging station procurement contract for non-networked DC fast charging infrastructure with the State of California through the California Department of General Services (DGS).

“We’re incredibly honored to be selected to support the State of California as they continue to electrify their fleets,” shared Jim Burness, CEO and founder of National Car Charging. “California has long been the frontrunner in EV adoption, and as a native Californian, I am especially proud to help the state continue its leadership in transportation electrification.”

This winter, temperatures in the Midwest dropped to a chilly 50 below as the region was pummeled by a polar vortex. We even got some snow in the foothills around Silicon Valley. No matter how chilly it gets, though, EV drivers have no reason to fear. While cold weather can affect your range, you can still get where you’re going in an EV.

Cold weather can reduce range because batteries are at their most efficient between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate control systems in your car rely on your battery to run, so your range can take a double hit if you crank up the heat. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you keep zooming around on electrons this winter.

Here are some helpful tips for EV driving in cold weather.

Written by Margaret-Ann Leavitt, CMO, National Car Charging & Aloha Charge.

At first blush, the future of EVs and farming may not seem interconnected; however, the future of agriculture, especially in the United States, is uniquely dependent on the rise of electrified transportation for its survival and that of the planet’s.

Agriculture and climate change.

Farming has long been at the mercy of Mother Nature. Even the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is the story of a tornado threatening the family farm. Those fears and weather uncertainties have only escalated over time. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the release of vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere has altered the earth’s climate, and in turn, has greatly impacted our farming communities.

By Margaret-Ann Leavitt, CMO, National Car Charging

With gas prices soaring, 2022 is very quickly being dubbed the year of the electric car. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) can help save us money, reduce our carbon footprint, and protect our domestic energy independence, the transition to electrification is also a direct path to environmental justice, especially in our pollution-filled cities across the United States.

What is environmental justice?

Environmental justice embraces the idea that we all have a right to equal protection and equal enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Studies have shown lower income neighborhoods, and specifically communities of color, are more likely to be situated near highways, high traffic areas, manufacturing plants, garbage dumps, and so on and as such, disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental deterioration or pollution. While housing may be cheaper in these areas, it comes at a high cost for residents including exposure to contaminated soil and polluted air.

Layering on, these communities also frequently experience the worst of climate-change provoked disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding—impacting their livelihoods, homes, health, and financial security.

Load balancing is more than just an efficient way to distribute power to charging EVs. It can enable charge point operators (CPOs) to use less-than-optimal power feeds by maximizing available power capacity, save on electricity costs, and help them charge more vehicles overall. Here’s how.

What is Load Balancing?

Tritium chargers use advanced load balancing algorithms to dynamically and efficiently distribute power among EVs in a charging hub. Load balancing provides the right amount of power to EVs at the right time. EVs don’t all charge at the same rate, and they don’t charge at the same rate over time from 0% to 100% battery capacity. EVs typically draw maximum power early in charging when they have a low state of charge to preserve battery health. Load balancing algorithms provide only the power each EV needs, leaving the rest of the available grid power to charge other EVs in the hub.

Seeing more electric vehicles (EVs) pulling into your lots? If you haven’t already, you will very soon. Global sales of passenger EVs are expected to surge over the next few years, rising from 10.5 million in 2022 to approximately 27 million in 2026, according to the 2023 BloombergNEF (BNEF) Long-Term Electric Vehicle Outlook report. BNEF predicts that in the U.S., thanks to a new round of federal incentives, EVs will make up about 28% of passenger vehicle sales by 2026.

These numbers mean parking lots will be filling up with EVs looking to get a charge. The new way to fuel will be more like plugging in your phone while you do other activities (in this case, shop, work, dine out, go to appointments and more) rather than making a special stop at a fueling station.

This new fueling movement gives parking operators — and other businesses — a big opportunity to stay competitive by offering an all-inclusive parking experience that includes EV charging. It’s also a way to generate a new revenue stream by attracting the growing number of EV drivers to your parking facility who are visiting shops, restaurants and offices nearby.

It's clear that EV charging will be desired by customers, but how do you get set up in a way that will have a positive impact on your bottom line? Let’s break it down.