Initiative aims to increase popularity of workplace charging; supports efforts to make plug-in electric vehicles more affordable and convenient.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – At the NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte, N.C., officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, NASCAR and Sprint Corp. announced the companies’ participation in the Department’s Workplace Charging Challenge – a collaborative effort to increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging. The initiative also supports the broader efforts of the Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles more affordable and convenient.
“As the market for electric vehicles continues to grow, partners in the Workplace Charging Challenge are giving drivers more transportation options that save money and benefit the environment,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson.
As part of this announcement, NASCAR unveiled five Eaton Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its Charlotte location, bringing the total number of EV charging stations to 20 across NASCAR facilities located in Daytona Beach, Concord, Charlotte and at Michigan International Speedway. The charging stations power electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles of NASCAR employees and guests.
Last year, NASCAR entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Energy to jointly promote clean, efficient energy technologies that strengthen U.S. competitiveness. NASCAR says its participation in the Workplace Charging Challenge is the latest example of these ongoing collaborative efforts to build a cleaner, more sustainable energy economy.
“Working with the Department of Energy to help build out an EV charging infrastructure was critical given its benefits which include lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health, increasing energy security and lowering operating cost per mile,” said Dr. Mike Lynch, NASCAR vice president of green innovation. “Our commitment to better the environment has positioned NASCAR as the leader in sports sustainability, and we hope to influence other partners to follow our lead by joining the challenge.”
Through the Workplace Charging Challenge, Sprint is installing an EV charging station in each of the 14 parking garages on its headquarters campus in Overland Park, Kan. Each station will be able to charge two cars at once and will be available to Sprint employees, contractors, campus tenants and visitors. Additionally, four of the stations, funded by Kansas City Power & Light, will be available for public use. Installation has already begun and all of the stations should be ready to use by the end of March.
“Sprint is proud to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s EV Everywhere vision by joining The Workplace Charging Challenge. It is also a pleasure to make this announcement today with fellow challenge member and long-term partner NASCAR,” said Gene Agee, Sprint vice president of procurement and real estate. “This year, more than a dozen electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at Sprint’s headquarters campus, benefitting employees, contractors, campus tenants and visitors. The stations are enabled by Sprint’s mobile broadband technology to monitor and control use.”
More than 55 employers have already committed to the Workplace Charging Challenge, including a number of NASCAR Official Partners such as 3M, Coca-Cola Co., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors. Find additional information on the Workplace Charging Challenge at www.electricvehicles.energy.gov.
