Parking Industry Joins with U.S. Department of Energy to Support Obama Administration Initiative to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in the Workplace

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu recognizes International Parking Institute, world’s largest parking association, along with leading automotive, communications, high tech, energy and environmental groups at Washington Auto Show’s Public Policy Day

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Parking Institute (IPI) was named a founding Ambassador in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Workplace Charging Challenge, a new initiative of the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge,that was announced today by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu at the Washington Auto Show’s Public Policy Day.

“I believe that by working collectively, we can transform the way employers view their role in supporting PEV use and take a huge leap forward in protecting our environment.”

The Workplace Charging Challenge will support the expansion of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) by encouraging employers to install charging stations at workplaces. Increasing the availability of charging stations at places of employment will support the broader goal of the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, announced by President Obama last year, which aims to enable U.S. companies to be world leaders in producing PEVs by making them as affordable and convenient as today’s gas-powered vehicles for the average American family.

In his keynote this afternoon, Secretary Chu said: “The market for electric vehicles is expanding dramatically, giving drivers more options to save money on gasoline while reducing carbon pollution.”

Earlier in the day, IPI Chair Casey Jones, CAPP, joined other founding Ambassadors, Partners, and senior administration officials in a Workplace Charging Roundtable in Washington, D.C.

Workplace Charging Challenge Founding Partners include Google, Verizon, 3M, Eli Lilly, GE, Siemens, Duke Energy, San Diego Gas & Electric, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Nissan, and Tesla.

In addition to the International Parking Institute, Workplace Charging Challenge Founding Ambassadors include The California PEV Collaborative, CALSTART, Electric Drive Transportation Association, Electrification Coalition, NextEnergy, Plug In America, and the Rocky Mountain Institute.

“As an Ambassador of the Workplace Charging Challenge, IPI now has a government-supported action plan to help us more keenly focus our efforts in this arena,” explained Jones. “I believe that by working collectively, we can transform the way employers view their role in supporting PEV use and take a huge leap forward in protecting our environment.”

International Parking Institute (IPI) is the world’s largest association of parking professionals and the parking industry. www.parking.org