SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charge Across Town, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting electric transportation in the Bay Area, today announced the launch of the “Driving on Sunshine” campaign. In collaboration with the San Francisco Department of the Environment and Envision Solar, the program will sponsor free solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging in highly visible locations across San Francisco neighborhoods throughout 2015. Driving on Sunshine is funded by the 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation.
“This innovative program allows the City of San Francisco to demonstrate that electric vehicles can charge from 100-percent renewable sources, with no impact to the electric grid and with absolutely zero emissions,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “Driving on Sunshine is a perfect example of taking innovative action to protect the climate.”
Three Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Chargers (EV ARCs™) from Envision Solar will be placed throughout the city at predetermined sites, each for a three-month time period. The mobile solar units will collect data on frequency and duration of use; the Driving on Sunshine team will evaluate usage reports at the end of the campaign, inform the City on its findings, and will donate units to the host sites determined to have the most impact.
Free EV charging is now available until June 30 at the following locations:
- Stonestown Galleria Mall, Lakeshore District, parking lot D
- The Embarcadero at Green Street, North Beach District, public parking across from the Exploratorium
- 17th Street and Shotwell Street, Mission District, at a City CarShare Pod near the 16th Street BART station (exclusively used by a City CarShare vehicle for their members)
Representatives from the City of San Francisco, the Port of San Francisco and City CarShare will join the Driving on Sunshine team today at 10:00 a.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Embarcadero at Green Street. A second ceremony will be held at the Stonestown Galleria Mall at 1:00 p.m.
Charge Across Town will unveil the Mission District EV ARC™ during the Earth Day SF Street Fair on Saturday, April 18.
“San Francisco is a national leader in both electric vehicle adoption and renewable energy use, and Driving on Sunshine further empowers residents to take an active role in reducing emissions,” said Maureen Blanc, Director of Charge Across Town. “We are encouraged by the support we’ve seen from local businesses and government organizations, and we look forward to working alongside our partners to elevate environmental awareness through this innovative public-private collaboration.”
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About Charge Across Town
Charge Across Town™ is a non-profit organization fostering public-private partnership between city government, local businesses and the electric vehicle (EV) community to advance the adoption of EVs, reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector, and helps create clean energy jobs in California and beyond. Charge Across Town will raise awareness of EVs and educate consumers on the benefits, costs and feasibility of owning an electric car. It will advance the EV infrastructure by educating and incentivizing commercial and residential property owners on the costs and benefits of installing EV charging stations. For more information visit http://www.chargeacrosstown.org/.
About San Francisco Department of the Environment
The Department creates visionary policies and innovative programs to
improve, enhance, and preserve San Francisco's urban and natural
environment, leading the way toward a sustainable future by developing
wide-ranging environmental programs, fostering groundbreaking
legislation, working collaboratively with key partners, and educating
the public on comprehensive sustainability practices.
http://www.sfenvironment.org/.
About Envision Solar International, Inc.
Based in San Diego, Envision Solar, www.envisionsolar.com, designs, manufactures and deploys unique, renewable energy media and branding systems and EV chargers with a Drag & Drop Infrastructure™ product line. The company’s flagship products include the patent pending EV ARC™, patented Solar Tree® array and Solar Tree® Socket™.