Quick Charge Program

information provided by
Gloria Quinn, EdisonEV

About the Quick Charge Program

The South Coast Air Quality Management District's "Quick Charge" program is a comprehensive effort providing money for both buying down the costs of electric vehicles ($5,000 per vehicle for a total of $6 million) and developing a network of public charging sites.

As part of the Quick Charge program (not to be confused with fast charging technology under development which may provide vehicle charging in 20 minutes or less), the SCAQMD's EV Corridor Community Program initiative will assist local governments in building 437 electric vehicle charging stations at 137 sites in Southern California. The program is designed to assist communities in demonstrating the infrastructure, permitting process, and coordination within and between communities, utilities and manufacturers necessary for the smooth introduction of larger numbers of EVs.

Edison EV will supply and install the chargers for six of the seven projects approved by the SCAQMD, including those proposed by the Orange Country League of Cities; the City of Fontana (on behalf of the San Bernardino County Cities); Riverside Country Transportation Commission (on behalf of Western Riverside County); the City of Santa Monica; San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments; and the Arroyo Verdugo Transportation Coalition. A seventh project by the City of Los Angeles was also authorized.

These seven projects involve 33 government entities matched with 60 private-sector partnerships providing $4.2 million in co-funding. SCAQMD will provide $1.73 million, funded through a $4 annual Motor Vehicle Registration fee, not through tax dollars.

Three EV corridors will result from the program: The "405" corridor, which begins in Lincoln/Sherman Oaks and ends in Mission Viejo; the "10" corridor, which begins in Santa Monica and ends in Redlands; and the "215/91" corridor, which begins in Temecula/Riverside and ends in Gardena.

Anaheim City Council approves Quick Charge! 9/23/97

By an unexpected margin of 4-1, the City Council of Anaheim voted on September 23rd to move ahead with their participation in the Quick Charge program and install three inductive chargers at sites around the city. The vote had an even greater impact than three new charging stations in Anaheim: Since the City is coordinating the Quick Charge program for all of Orange County, another 22 inductive chargers at 14 sites were also at stake.

According to Enid Joffe of Edison EV, the Council was swayed by the efforts of EV1 drivers -- particularly John Cox, Greg Hansen, Gardner Harris and Tom Reimer who participated in last night's meeting -- and the EV1 Specialists. The opportunity to test drive an EV1, demonstrating that EV technology is not only viable but here today, was very persuasive.

Oil industry lobbyists parading as a grassroots group -- Californians Against Hidden Taxes -- showed up at the meeting, spreading their usual disinformation about the environmental benefits of EVs and even making personal attacks. But the Council was unswayed.

The only dissenting vote came from Councilmember Bob Zemel. Zemel said he liked the EV1, and might even buy one, but did not feel that voters meant to fund public charging stations when they approved Measure M.

The City Council is likely to be pummeled by our friends at the Orange County Register for doing the right thing. Members may want to write a letter to the editor praising the Council's decision, and send a copy to the council members at the address below.

The Anaheim City Council address is 200 S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92803. To call Council members dial City Hall (714) 254-5100 and then the appropriate extension:

Fax (714) 254-5164

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