{"id":6679,"date":"2018-10-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-25T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gridalt.wpenginepowered.com\/the-current\/taking-look-under-hood-grids-growing-work-electric-vehicles\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T16:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T20:57:08","slug":"taking-look-under-hood-grids-growing-work-electric-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/live-grid-wp.pantheonsite.io\/es\/the-current\/taking-look-under-hood-grids-growing-work-electric-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking a look under the hood: GRID\u2019s growing work with electric vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s an electric vehicle car show, let\u2019s get some trunks and hoods up!\u201d exclaimed Zach Franklin, GRID\u2019s Chief Strategy Officer, as he kicked off GRID\u2019s recent workshop and showcase the accessibility of electric vehicles (EVs). For EVs, this literal look under the hood holds quite a surprise: where traditional vehicles are packed full with a combustion motor and associated parts, the EVs have a tiny motor and extra storage space, with battery cells running underneath the length of the car.<\/p>\n

While this may seem more like a party trick than a paradigm shift, EVs – especially when paired with solar – provide a real opportunity to address climate change, improve local air quality and increase family finances. That opportunity, though, hinges on who has access to these vehicles.<\/p>\n

As part of GRID Alternatives\u2019 vision of a transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone, we are thrilled to be launching a new initiative to address exactly that question, and help improve equality of access to EVs and their associated benefits for the communities GRID serves.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not hard to see why: low-income families in the US spend approximately $75-$78 billion every year on gasoline. Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by pollution from both gasoline consumption and gasoline production, including disproportionate exposure to airborne lead poisoning from the era of leaded gasoline. By pairing electric vehicles with solar power, GRID is helping families replace gasoline with sunshine, saving them money and replacing local air pollution with clean energy.<\/p>\n

The initial focus is on supporting community outreach, helping qualified customers charge their electric vehicles with solar power, and connecting potential clients with the existing programs that assist in implementing low-carbon transportation equity programs. Here in the Bay Area, thanks to grant funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Grove Foundation, we have jumped in to connecting new and current GRID solar clients with at home EV chargers and the incentives to get into a new (or used) EV. We\u2019ve recently installed our first few solar powered electric vehicle charging stations in East Palo Alto, and have more on the way around the Bay Area. We are so grateful to share in our clients\u2019 excitement in this new work!<\/p>\n

As always, GRID is heavily leveraging partnerships to best assist in this work. Current partnerships and programs include:<\/p>\n