Submitted by Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy is working with local employers to advance electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Washington state by funding workplace charging stations throughout its service area.
Over the past six years, PSE Up & Go Electric has been making it easier to drive electric by installing more than 40 public and private charging stations for EV drivers through a pilot program targeting local employers. PSE is now expanding the Up & Go Electric for Workplace pilot into a program by covering up to 100 percent of the cost to install workplace charging stations. This will help EV drivers get the most of their time on the job, remove barriers for those considering the switch and help the environment. Adding workplace chargers can remove one of the biggest accessibility hurdles for those considering an EV purchase, enabling more to make the choice to switch to an EV.
“Washington state plans to end sales on new light duty gas-powered cars in 2030, making electric vehicles the primary option for residents who drive to work,” said PSE’s New Products and Services Manager Malcolm McCulloch. “However, not everyone has access to reliable charging. Having more accessible chargers means employees are confident to go electric, a core goal at PSE.”
PSE is offering up to 100% of the installation cost for qualifying small and medium-sized businesses. Eligible businesses can apply for this option, or another option, in which employers own, control and maintain the charger themselves while fully managing the installation.
All of PSE’s Up & Go Electric programs include enhanced Empower Mobility Incentives for projects benefiting historically underrepresented communities. In Up & Go Electric for Workplace, workplaces that serve or employ historically underrepresented communities may be eligible to have 100 percent of the costs covered for both PSE-owned or customer-owned chargers.
“Transportation accounts for 45% of the state’s emissions,” McCulloch added. “Since 2019, PSE’s Up & Go Electric programs have provided more than 4,000 MWh to electric vehicle drivers, equating to over 400,000 gallons of gasoline saved, and more than 3,900 tons of CO2 avoided. Expanding this program to more workplaces will only further PSE and our communities toward a clean energy future.”
Interested employers can apply to the workplace charging program here.
Other Up & Go Electric programs by PSE include Multifamily and Fleet with additional residential and public programs launching in the next year. Find more information about Up & Go Electric programs here.
