Esri Sponsors EV Road Trip with Zpryme Showcasing the Need for New Charging Stations

As the US prepares to dramatically expand its network of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) and update power grids to meet growing demand, planners in many jurisdictions are drafting strategies to capture some of the $5 billion slated to help states pay for charging stations under President Joseph Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

To support this effort, Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, is cosponsoring an EV road trip with Zpryme, an energy utility research company. The trip, taking place October 17–21 and spanning more than 400 miles across the state of California, is intended to call attention to the need to modernize America’s power grids and build more charging stations in order to reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.

Along the route from Sacramento to Esri’s Redlands headquarters, Zpryme’s researchers will visit some of California’s leading power companies. During those stops, the researchers will learn about plans being developed to increase power grid capacity to produce more electricity for EVs. Many power companies already rely on Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) software to create dynamic, data-driven interactive maps and dashboards for planning and forecasting, design, and collaboration.

“Geospatial technology is already a fundamental part of how many utility companies operate, so it will be a critical tool in scaling up the nation’s EV infrastructure,” said Matt Piper, Esri’s global director for industry solutions. “GIS can integrate data about a community’s demographics, traffic counts, and existing charging stations—this information can be linked to a location and overlaid on a digital map that can be updated and shared as plans change and evolve.”

Electric vehicle (EV) owners often grapple with range anxiety, a fear embedded in the concern of not having enough charging stations available to complete their journeys. This apprehension can act as a deterrent, slowing the transition of many consumers towards adopting this technology. However, utilities and planners can leverage Geographic Information System (GIS) to effectively identify and address potential gaps within a municipal network of charging stations. By predicting future demand and proactively addressing concerns about equity in station distribution, GIS can play a pivotal role in assuaging these fears. It grants planners the ability to ensure a more equitable and widespread deployment of charging stations, thus minimising range anxiety and promoting the use of electric vehicles.

“Utility companies are navigating an environment of regulatory shifts and changing consumer behavior and, as a result, are making decisions about the evolution of their business models,” said Jason Rodriguez, CEO of Zpryme. “Modernization is necessary to meet these future expectations and to become more resilient in this era where we must find solutions to address the effects of climate change.”

All 50 US states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have submitted EV infrastructure deployment plans, as required under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Preparation of these plans is a prerequisite for them to access support from the first round of an expected $5 billion in funding over the next five years. States are obligated to guarantee their networks are user-friendly, dependable, and accessible to all Americans, while also meeting Federal Highway Administration (FHA) standards.

The application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology offers sophisticated capabilities for gathering and interpreting data to comply with these FHA norms. Moreover, it provides an equity index tool that assists in identifying priority populations and recognizing gaps in service, thereby promoting more comprehensive and equitable distribution of charging infrastructure.

Learn more about how utilities can use GIS to map future EV charging infrastructure.