Clean tech solutions company PowerFlex installed 20 new AC EV charging stations at the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) Carmelitos public housing development.
Delivered in partnership with the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD) and LACDA, all of the chargers are categorised as Level 2. Half of them are publicly accessible, and the other half will be used for LACDA fleet operations.
LACDA is a government agency that administers programmes for affordable housing and community development.
Michael Owh, director of LA ISD said the Carmelitos chargers symbolise “the county’s commitment to prioritising sustainable infrastructure in historically underserved communities”.
Level 2 chargers, the energy ranking of those installed at the Carmelitos project, typically offer lower-cost per-kWh charging. Most of California’s public chargers are Level 2 units, providing 25-35 miles of range per hour of charging. The AC current means charging happens over a longer period of time, but this enables drivers to access offers like time of use tariffs by charging at periods when demand on the grid is otherwise low.
PowerFlex, which is backed by EDF power solutions and Manulife Investments, has a proprietary energy optimisation platform that it says reduces overall energy costs.
The project was supported by Southern California Electric’s Charge Ready programme, which offers financial incentives and rebates for installation of EV charging infrastructure.