City of Hoboken Partners With Volta to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure at No Cost to City
Volta Inc. (NYSE: VLTA), a leader in the electric vehicle (“EV”) charging network domain, has made public its partnership with the City of Hoboken. The partnership’s primary goal is to install 25 new public EV charging stalls within the next 18 months, catering to the city’s residents, yearly visitors, and daily commuters. This installation will more than double the currently available public EV charging ports in Hoboken.
Furthermore, Volta and the City of Hoboken may expand this collaboration to include additional charging infrastructure, acting as an exemplary model of how EV charging facilities can be effectively deployed in densely populated urban areas. This strategy aims to optimize economic benefits, improve health conditions, and contribute to climate change mitigation.
Volta Inc. extends beyond merely providing charging services; it is the only EV charging company that seamlessly intertwines an eye-catching digital media network into its public charging stations. This innovative approach captivates consumers while they shop, dine, or go about their day in the vicinity of local businesses, entertainment venues, workplaces, and residential areas. By adding 25 new Volta charging stalls – and consequently 50 digital media screens – in Hoboken, the Volta Media Network’s impressions will be expanded by nearly 20 percent within the New York, NY designated market area (DMA).
This move will unlock an extended reach within the highest ranked DMA for Volta’s advertising customers. Moreover, the network influences local economic activity in Hoboken, shaping consumers’ behaviors with contextually relevant, large-format messages displayed on Volta’s screens. City officials can also leverage this platform to communicate large-format messages that reach a diverse group of constituents and visitors.
The integration of digital advertising screens on Volta’s charging stations certainly adds a transformative edge to the traditional EV charging model. Not only does it generate immediate media revenue upon installation, but it also allows Volta to offset development and construction costs to its charging partners, including the City of Hoboken.
This unique media model proves mutually beneficial for both Volta and the drivers in Hoboken. For drivers, it translates to lower cost EV charging, thereby incentivizing higher utilization rates. By making charging more affordable, Volta ensures that every dollar invested in building this crucial infrastructure yields maximum returns. This innovative approach to EV charging infrastructure not only reinforces Volta’s commitment to sustainable transportation but also helps drivers in Hoboken transition to electric vehicles in a more cost-effective manner.
“An accessible and public electric vehicle charging network is an essential component of achieving Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan and becoming carbon neutral by 2050,” said Mayor of the City of Hoboken Ravi S. Bhalla. “Through this partnership with Volta, no matter where a resident lives in Hoboken, they will be within a five-minute walk of a charger, making it easier to own an electric or plug-in hybrid car. I look forward to cutting the ribbon on the first 25 stalls in the new year, which will have no impact on the municipal budget.”
Hoboken’s commitment to a sustainable future is clearly manifested in its Climate Action Plan of 2019
In its Climate Action Plan of 2019, the city is recognizing transportation as the second largest contributor to the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 31 percent. The city has since taken robust measures to curb these emissions, installing 22 public EV charging ports and developing a regulatory environment conducive to electric vehicle adoption. These include favorable zoning and ordinances, as well as initiatives to educate the community about the benefits of EVs.
In the pursuit of these climate goals, the new EV charging stalls support not only environmental sustainability but also offer substantial health and economic benefits to the city’s residents, commuters, and visitors. According to Volta’s data planning tools, increased EV adoption could lead to Hoboken avoiding up to 2,250 tons of carbon pollution, a major contributor to health issues such as asthma and other respiratory problems, by 2024. Additionally, the transition from gasoline to electric-powered miles could save Hoboken’s drivers up to $1.2 million annually on fuel expenses.
Volta’s PredictEV™ platform played a crucial role
Volta’s PredictEV™ platform played a crucial role in identifying the optimal locations within Hoboken for the new charging stations. This platform uses an array of data sources, including local mobility, demographic, commercial, and site-specific data, to generate a comprehensive 20-year plan for EV infrastructure deployment.
Insights provided by PredictEV™ include expected EV adoption rates, the best locations for charging stations, the ideal mix of charging infrastructure, and anticipated societal benefits such as CO2 reduction, improved air quality, and enhanced health outcomes. This data-driven, equitable approach to EV infrastructure planning is already being employed by electric utilities and licensed by states to ensure that public investment aligns with the mandates of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“Over 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas, many of whom lack access to at-home EV charging. Public charging networks in densely populated areas are essential to moving away from fossil fuels and addressing climate change,” says John Stuckey, Vice President of Public Network Development at Volta. “We’re pleased to partner with the vibrant City of Hoboken to provide this essential service, and to do so at no cost to the City.”
“Our partnership with the City of Hoboken is an extension of Volta’s Charging for All initiative, our commitment to investing in more accessible, equitable, and affordable public charging – especially in dense communities where home charging isn’t an option,” said Kevin Samy, Head of Policy and Climate Strategy at Volta. “Volta’s media-enabled chargers generate the most value per charger in the industry, allowing us to increase charging availability, accelerate EV adoption, and create the shortest pathway to electric mobility for all.”
