Author: Scott Chaffee

On December 21 at 10 PM ET, NBC Sports will feature a documentary about Charge Across America, and reveal the winners of the US’ first-ever cross-country electric vehicle rally.

Over the course of 10 days in the fall, five teams drove from New York City to Los Angeles, using only electric vehicles. The event aimed to demystify electric vehicles, demonstrate the cars’ impressive capabilities, and highlight areas that need to be addressed in order to foster mass adoption of EVs across locations and demographics.

“Driving across the United States in an electric vehicle was exhilarating and eye opening,” said Mike Landau, CEO of ParkMyFleet, a mobility company that served as a platinum sponsor for Charge Across America. “I saw firsthand how far we’ve come in the EV revolution and how close we are to achieving zero emissions.”

The teams, which included drivers with and without EV experience, faced the common challenges that come with driving long distances — including route navigation and fatigue. But they also grappled with ones unique to driving EVs: Determining how far to drive before charging, identifying conveniently-located charging stations and being met with malfunctioning chargers.

From coast-to-coast, the participants used approximately 30 charging stations with about 150 charging sessions with various charging providers to complete the drive. This was possible because of the robust Ultra-Fast charging network built by Electrify America.

Teams earned points throughout the competition based on a number of factors, including strategy, arriving first to a destination, and giving back to local establishments and causes.

“Having five teams drive the same route 'stress-tested' the existing infrastructure, which provided key insights on the opportunities needed to move forward,” said Kristin Slanina, Managing Director of Charge Across America.

At several locations on the route, Charge Across America hosted events to highlight the technology advancements and initiatives ushering in the EV revolution and to meet with leaders in the industry.

On Oct. 31, Charge Across America kicked off in Brooklyn, New York at the fast-charging Superhub at Revel, an electric mobility company, where a number of activists shared their thoughts on the EV landscape. The following day, CAA hosted an exclusive dinner event at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

"This tour is showing that it is already possible to travel from coast-to-coast in an EV,” Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy, said in her remarks at the Michigan event. “Thanks so much to Charge Across America and ParkMyFleet for pioneering this EV race across our nation."

On Nov. 8, CAA held a mid-reception rally at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was an especially significant stop because Nevada is the domestic lithium hub, leading the effort to power EVs into the future.

“Nevada’s emergence as a world leader in the lithium-ion battery economy is such great news," Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said at the event. "We are committed to transforming that convoluted supply-chain and utilizing Nevada’s assets to bring profound environmental benefits to the battery manufacturing and recycling process."

TangentVector, an award-winning production company, filmed the entirety of Charge Across America and produced a documentary about the groundbreaking event.

CAA was sponsored by a number of key industry players, including Cambridge Mobile Telematics, Dave Cantin Group/Westlake Autoscape, Velodyne Lidar, Ship Your Car Now, Thirdware, and US Bank Voyager. ParkMyFleet, a mobility company, served as a platinum sponsor throughout the event.

“There’s so much great progress being made in electric vehicles, but there are still key opportunities to address,” said Slanina. “Charge Across America has offered up clarity as to where the deficiencies lie and how we can target investment money to improve EV standards and increase mass adoption.”

The Charge Across America documentary airs on NBC Sports on December 21 at 10 PM ET.

To learn more, visit ChargeAcrossAmerica.com and check us out on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

On October 31, five teams of drivers will hit the road from Brooklyn, New York, using only electric vehicles, and will traverse the country over 10 days to their final stop in Los Angeles. The goal of the event, Charge Across America, is to demystify electric vehicles and highlight innovations in the industry.  Each of the drivers brings a diverse set of skills to the road, a common passion for EVs, and an eagerness to demonstrate the vehicles’ burgeoning and exciting capabilities. 

Amanda Korendyke, driving a Porsche Taycan, expresses her inspiration for joining Charge Across America and shares what she’ll do to maximize performance.

What inspired you to join Charge Across America? My husband, Brad, asked me if I would be interested before telling me more than “Want to drive across the country in an electric car with me?” – I said, “absolutely”. I love road trips and it’s great to be able to spend time with Brad away from home.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge? I think making sure we’re being smart about our available mileage vs. the distance from a charger since you can’t exactly walk to the charger and carry back a gallon of electricity like you could with gasoline.

What are some of your strategies for the race? Biggest strategy for me is training myself to drink less water during the day so I can stay in the car as long as absolutely possible before stopping. Second strategy is making sure I’m remembering my foot is hewn from pure lead and I need to control it so we get optimal mileage and don’t get points off for speeding.

What’s your favorite EV? I’ve never gotten to see one up close, but I’m partial to the Polestar 2. I also love the look of the Lucid Air. The minute someone is brave enough to make an all-electric station wagon I will be their devotee for life.

What excited you most about EVs? I actually worked very closely with the oil and gas sector in a previous life and I know how dirty, dangerous, and environmentally disruptive the industry is. I would love to see a move toward more clean energy sources once we are less dependent on gasoline to get around.

What was your first car? My first car was a 1993 Ford Explorer XLT named “Dora”. She was loud, rusty, and could lug around half a high school cheerleading team. Got 8 mpg most days but I loved her.

ParkMyFleet is a platinum sponsor of Charge Across America. Learn more here and check out our social media accounts! 
Twitter: @AcrossCharge
IG: @Charge_Across_America
LinkedIn: Charge Across America
FB: @ChargeAcrossAmerica

On October 31, five teams of drivers will hit the road from Brooklyn, New York, using only electric vehicles, and will traverse the country over 10 days to their final stop in Los Angeles. The goal of the event, Charge Across America, is to demystify electric vehicles and highlight innovations in the industry. 
Each of the drivers brings a diverse set of skills to the road, a common passion for EVs, and an eagerness to demonstrate the vehicles’ burgeoning and exciting capabilities. 

One of the drivers, Laycee, known to her followers as “Miss GoElectric,” shared with Charge Across America her motivation for joining the race and some of her strategies for the event. 
What inspired you to join Charge Across America? 
I know it is important to show everyone that electric cars are already the best mobility choice for many people across the country. We can prove that now is a great time to go electric.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge? 
I frequently road trip in my EV but have never been timed for it. Keeping all the rules in mind and figuring out how to maximize moving time will be very important.
What are some of your strategies for the race?
Strategies we will implement include optimizing charging stops for our Mustang Mach E’s charging curve with consideration for the following day’s objectives. We will strive to make the trip as efficient as possible. Oh and most importantly, have fun.
What’s your favorite EV?
I love my Tesla, and my next EV will probably be a long range pickup truck or full-sized SUV. The Rivian R1T looks to be first to market and I’ve pre-ordered a 400-mile MaxPack version. If you are thinking of getting me an EV for my birthday, I’d happily accept a Rimac Nevera.  
What excites you most about EVs? 
The dramatic improvement to my standard of living is what continues to excite me about EVs. The ability to affordably and conveniently charge at home, the quiet and peaceful drive experience, and the exhilarating performance all contribute to a joyful lifestyle. My EV has been the most reliable automobile I’ve owned.
What was your first car? 
My first car was an Electric Batmobile. Driving it up and down my grandparent’s driveway back in the early 90s was the first time I experienced the famed “EV grin”.

ParkMyFleet is a platinum sponsor of Charge Across America. Learn more here and check out our social media accounts! 
Twitter: @AcrossCharge
IG: @Charge_Across_America
LinkedIn: Charge Across America
FB: @ChargeAcrossAmerica

Ypsilanti, MI — On November 1, teams partaking in Charge Across America,  a cross-country electric vehicle event, will traverse through Pittsburgh and Ohio, and make a final stop for the day in Ypsilanti, Michigan. That evening, participants, mobility experts, and journalists will convene for an exclusive dinner event at the American Center for Mobility.

Over the course of 10 days, CAA will bring together teams of drivers, of varying backgrounds, who will travel across the country in electric vehicles, from New York City to Los Angeles. The event aims to demystify electric vehicles and demonstrate the cars’ impressive capabilities, while also highlighting the technology advancements and initiatives ushering in the EV revolution. 

Teams will make planned and strategic stops, where they’ll showcase each destination’s significant gains and initiatives in the electric vehicle space. 

On day two, in Ypsilanti, CAA will have an auspicious opportunity to spotlight local and state-wide EV initiatives in Michigan.

“Michigan continues to be a leader in the mobility ecosystem,” said Kristin Slanina, Managing Director of Charge Across America. “We are proud to feature Detroit as a hub of reinvention as it rises to the challenges and excitement of the next generation of automotive.”

Four influential entities, with Michigan ties, will host and sponsor the November 1 event:

Thirdware, which has more than two decades of experience in consulting, designing, implementing and support of enterprise applications for Fortune 500 firms, will sponsor the dinner event. 

The American Center for Mobility, which focuses on accelerating the mobility industry through research, testing, standards development and educational programming, will help host the dinner, along with DTE Energy, a Detroit-based energy company, and the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, which works to enhance Michigan’s mobility ecosystem by developing dynamic mobility and electrification policies.

The 125-person event will take place on the center’s 500-acre site and four industry luminaries will share their thoughts on exciting developments in the EV industry. 

The event, and the entirety of the Charge Across America event, will be filmed by TangentVector, an award-winning production company, which will produce a docuseries about this groundbreaking race.

ParkMyFleet, a mobility company that’s tackling some of the industry’s biggest pain points, will serve as a platinum sponsor throughout the 10-day event.

For media inquiries, contact: 

Sarah Provost, info@chargeacrossamerica.com 

Eleanor Fox, EFox@parkmyfleet.com 

To learn more, visit ChargeAcrossAmerica.com and check out our social media accounts! 

Twitter: @AcrossCharge 

IG: @Charge_Across_America 

LinkedIn: Charge Across America 

FB: @ChargeAcrossAmerica

New York, NY —— On October 31, Charge Across America (CAA), a cross-country electric vehicle event, will launch from Brooklyn, NY at the fast-charging Superhub at Revel, an electric mobility company.

CAA will bring together teams of drivers, of varying backgrounds, who will traverse the country in electric vehicles, from New York City to Los Angeles. The event aims to demystify electric vehicles and demonstrate the cars’ impressive capabilities. At each location, the event will highlight the technology advancements and initiatives ushering in the EV revolution. 

Over the course of the 10-day event, the teams will make planned and strategic stops, where they’ll highlight each destination’s significant gains and initiatives in the electric vehicle space. 

Teams will face the common challenges that come with driving long distances — including route navigation and fatigue — while also grappling with ones unique to driving EVs: How far to drive before charging and identifying conveniently-located charging stations. 

“Charge Across America will show the US, and the world, just how ready we are as a society to embrace the EV revolution,” said Kristin Slanina, Managing Director of Charge Across America. “It’s exciting to start in New York City, which has made major commitments and inroads in electrification, even in such a bustling and complex urban landscape. 

On Oct. 31, the drivers will kick off the event from Revel’s Superhub. The company, which is hosting the event’s launch, is leading cities to a zero-carbon future by integrating technology, operations, and infrastructure across energy and mobility sectors. It offers consumers access to shared electric mopeds, electric rideshare, EV fast-charging stations and eBike subscriptions. 

“Getting people out of gas-guzzling cars and into EVs is one of the most important parts of our country’s progress towards a zero-carbon future,” said Paul Suhey, Revel Co-Founder and Head of Rideshare & EV Infrastructure. “Revel is working to make this vision a reality with our shared electric mobility options and urban charging infrastructure, and we’re proud to host Charge Across America as they do the same by spreading the word about the versatility of electric vehicles.” 

From New York City, the teams will drive through New Jersey and Pennsylvania before arriving at their final destination for the day in Pittsburgh.

The event has partnered with TangentVector, an award-winning production company, which will film and produce a documentary about this groundbreaking race. ParkMyFleet, a mobility company, will serve as a platinum sponsor throughout the entirety of the Charge Across America event.

For media inquiries, contact:  
Sarah Provost, info@chargeacrossamerica.com
 Eleanor Fox, EFox@parkmyfleet.com