Seek meeting with
California Governor Jerry Brown to ensure that California develops EV charging
as platform for innovation, rather than simple utility service, to support
development of autonomous vehicles, drones, and other innovative technologies

Sacramento—Comparing electric vehicle (EV)
charging to the “early stages” of the Internet, six major technology industry associations wrote to California
Governor Jerry Brown (D) and asked him to promote competition and innovation in
the electric vehicle charging market and ensure that EV charging becomes a
“platform for innovation.” The effort
was organized by TechNet and joined by NetChoice, CALinnovates, ACT | The App
Association, Tech Freedom, and the Electric Vehicle Charging Association
(EVCA).

In the
letter, the organizations write: “As
your administration prepares to deliver on its agenda, including its 2016 ZEV
Action Plan, we propose a meeting to discuss the importance of these issues at
your earliest convenience. California needs to view charging infrastructure as
a platform for innovation rather than a simple utility service to be
provided. We need a technologically
flexible system that can be leveraged by the autonomous automobiles, drones,
and multitudes of unimaginable innovations that will define the future of
Silicon Valley, California, and the world.”

California
leads our nation in electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure, and more
than 430,000 Californians work in advanced energy jobs. Last week, the California Energy Commission
approved a $9 million grant for the installation of EV charging stations along
highways in the state, which will connect California with the West Coast
Electric Highway already being developed in Oregon and Washington.

The
California Public Utilities Commission has already approved two major pilot
programs (one in Los Angeles, another in San Diego) to expand EV charging in
the state. Now the Commission is
considering a revised proposal from PG&E to deploy 7,600 chargers across
the northern part of the state. Yet, significant concerns have been raised about
PG&E’s effort to control EV charging in Northern California.

In the
letter, the organizations questioned “utility monopoly models,” such as
PG&E’s, that could dramatically slow innovation: “Companies around the world are rolling out the wireless and automatic
charging technologies necessary to facilitate autonomous cars. Under a utility monopoly model those
technologies may take another 5 to 10 years to be approved and deployed.”

Text of
the letter follows.