Very soon, Qualcomm Stadium won’t be the only place to find chargers in San Diego. Thanks to the Smart City San Diego initiative, residents will soon have more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to choose from and 50 electric vehicles for lease to go with them.
This collaborative endeavor brings together leaders from the public sector, private industry, and academia in an effort to boost EV use, increase the city’s energy independence, and spur growth in San Diego’s clean economy sector. With one of the largest EV rollouts in the United States to date, Smart City San Diego aims to spark consumer demand while at the same time learning more about how people incorporate electric vehicles and other alternative car fuels into their everyday lives.
Also, by exploring the feasibility of using solar energy to power EV charging stations, true zero tailpipe emissions may be achieved.
Each partner involved in Smart City San Diego has a particular role to play in this collaboration. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders got the initiative off the ground and convinced San Diegans to take part. The University of California-San Diego, led by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, lent research capacity as well as a natural testing ground for smart grid technology and EV use. San Diego Gas & Electric, the area utility company, brought its track record in smart utility solutions. GE, creator of the WattStation EV charging station, will contribute technological expertise and CleanTECH San Diego, a nonprofit representing companies in the greater San Diego clean technology cluster, will bring its network and its experience advocating for clean technology innovation.
Read the entire article at the Atlantic Cities
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