Georgia Power Brings Mission-Critical EV Infrastructure to the Southeast

Powering Innovation in the Peach State

Georgia Power serves more than 2.6 million residential and business customers, making it one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. The Georgia Power Electric Transportation team is leveraging the utility’s size and influence to prove that, even in a region of the country lacking in mandates and current incentive programs, the Southeast can still be a major player in e-mobility. Consider the recent Pivet Atlanta project. Pivet, a Cox Automotive Company, partnered with ChargePoint to install ten DC fast and 20 Level 2 fleet EV chargers at the 25-acre Pivet Atlanta facility located in a former “EV charging desert” between downtown and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Completed in August 2020, it’s one of the “largest electric vehicle charging single property installations in the Southeast”—and one of the fastest. “It was six months from contract to install to activation,” Norman says. “I would say that the overall project took about a year from initial conversation to a first kilowatt delivered.”

Providing Superior Products and Service

“As a utility, Georgia Power does much more than make, move and sell energy, it surprises many to learn the depth of experience and customer-focused solutions offered in the electric transportation space,” says Norman. So how does Georgia Power continue to remain relevant to its shareholders and add value for its customers? He says the utility complements energy sales with regulated utility programs and its unregulated outside sales and services of everything electrical—from generators and lighting to the electrification of transportation. “My motto has always been, ‘Would you like fries with that?’ EV infrastructure is not one size fits all and the technology is so ever-evolving, there are opportunities to share best practices and avoid pitfalls,” he says. Georgia Power does that by getting to know its customers and choosing reliable partners that it can count on to be there for the long haul.

Getting to Know Customers

Georgia is still an emerging market for electric vehicles, which means there’s no room for error. “Any negative press on these projects can be detrimental to future adoption,” says Norman. “We really seek to understand a customer’s unique operation, what their mission is and what they are looking to accomplish. With Pivet, it was understanding their business, really getting to know that team and coming up with a custom solution. I think when [Cox Automotive Mobility] evaluates their national deployment strategy and they're talking to different utilities; Georgia Power really shines,” he says. “We participate in the discussions and we're expedient with our communication, design and process. It’s more than just taking an order.” Georgia Power’s flexibility is one of the reasons ridesharing giant Lyft chose Atlanta as one of three U.S. cities (along with Seattle and Denver) to pilot its Express Drive EV rental program on its way to 100% electric vehicles by 2030.

Choosing the Best Partners

“We also make sure the product matches the application. One that's future-proofed for expansion or emerging technologies. ChargePoint has proven itself time and time again,” says Norman, noting that, on Pivet and other large-scale EV infrastructure projects, ChargePoint has been integral to helping Georgia Power prepare for the future of servicing electric fleets in what has historically been an underserved market. “What is unique about ChargePoint is that the power sharing and the modular approach allows us to serve today's technology, but it’s also future-proofed to charge the batteries of tomorrow,” he says.

Walking the Talk

Georgia Power recently announced plans to continue investing in EV infrastructure statewide in the coming years, including $6M for public fast charging by 2022. That’s on top of the 37 fast chargers it’s already installed. Georgia Power’s commitment to e-mobility extends to its plan to electrify portions of its own public fleet as part of a Southern Company (Georgia Power’s corporate parent) initiative to convert half of its fleet vehicles, including auto, forklift and ATVs to electric by 2030.

Georgia Power Needed

• A vendor capable of providing reliable, high-quality EV charging infrastructure to an underserved part of the country
• A company with a proven track record that can serve everyone from residential customers and businesses to fleets and large-scale infrastructure installations
• A scalable, future-proof solution backed by industry-leading service
• Reporting features its utility customers will use

ChargePoint Delivered

• User-friendly smart EV charging stations that will help drive adoption in Georgia and beyond
• Mission-critical, ENERGY STAR® certified solutions from the only EV charging company that does its own in-house safety and reliability testing
• 98% uptime guarantee with proactive station monitoring, technology dispatch and on-site service
• An established provider with a robust network that will be around for the long haul

At ChargePoint, we believe stories have the power to change the world.

Our customers share their stories because they’re passionate about all the ways the electrification of transportation has impacted their organizations. Like many companies around the globe, they’ve discovered that what’s good for the planet can also be good for business. E-mobility is here to stay. Perhaps it’s time to tell your own story.

Reach out to us at sales@chargepoint.com and let us know. We’d love to hear it.