At the NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte, North Carolina, officials from the U.S. Energy Department (DOE), 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 electric vehicle workplace charging tenfold.
The challenge also supports the broader efforts of the departments EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as affordable and convenient for the American family as gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years.
"In his State of the Union address, President Obama outlined an all-of-the-above strategy for American energy that expands fuel choices for American drivers and protects our communities nationwide," said assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy David Danielson.
"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 reduce carbon pollution."
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 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 DOE to jointly promote clean, efficient energy technologies that strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
NASCAR's 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 costs per mile," said Dr. Mike Lynch, vice president of green innovation, NASCAR.
"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 electric vehicle charging station in each of the 14 parking garages at its headquarters campus in Overland Park, Kansas.
Each station will have the capability 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 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 in Overland Park, benefiting employees, contractors, campus tenants and visitors.
"The stations are enabled by Sprint's mobile broadband technology to monitor and control use. We look forward to working with ChargePoint, the largest EV charging network in the nation, to bring this M2M solution to other organizations that are seeking to install EV charging stations."
More than 55 employers have already committed to the Workplace Charging Challenge, including a number of NASCAR official partners such as 3M, Coca-Cola Company, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors.
Find additional information on the Workplace Charging Challenge at www.electricvehicles.energy.gov.
