Q: Arizona ranks among the top 10 states to own an electric car, according to a recently released study from SmartAsset. In your view from within the electric car industry, what factors make this such a strong market?
Jason Church
Chief Operating Officer
Courtesy Automotive Group
Sector: Retail
There are a few key factors why Arizona is a strong market for electric vehicle ownership. The first is that electric vehicles qualify as blue-plate vehicles and thus for access to our HOV lanes. Second, while other cities have dynamic public transportation options, Phoenix is somewhat limited to bus and emerging light rail public transportation. Since the average daily commute is less than 25 miles, electric vehicles can accomplish all driving needs with no trips to the gas station. Finally, many living in the Phoenix Metro have garages where 240V chargers can be installed, enabling a full charge overnight.
Courtesy Automotive Group has fully supported and carried electric vehicles since the Chevy Volt was introduced 12 years ago. Along with our all-electric Polestar Scottsdale store, Courtesy proudly offers electric Kia, Jeep, Volvo and Chevy vehicles at our Arizona dealerships. We are also continually training our service and parts technicians to provide complete service to our electric vehicles across brands. You’ll see them doing their jobs with laptops instead of wrenches and other traditional tools.
Jason Church is COO of Courtesy Automotive Group. Born in Africa, Jason worked at Procter & Gamble before joining the Courtesy family car business. He held several positions at Courtesy dealerships before becoming COO over all Courtesy brands. Church has deep knowledge of the electric car industry and was a driving force in the family’s investment in Polestar Scottsdale.
Jonathan Levy
Chief Commercial Officer
EVgo
Sector: Electric Vehicles
Arizona is a leading market for electric vehicles in part because state policies and utility rates and incentives have created a supportive ecosystem for EV adoption. For example, Salt River Project, a long-standing partner of EVgo and Arizona’s community-based, not-for-profit water and utility company, used to offer a rebate for EV purchases and still offers residents and businesses incentives and rebates for EV charging. Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power offer competitive commercial electric rates that support EV charging and, to-date, EVgo has installed 29 public fast-charging stalls across their service territories where EV adoption is currently most prevalent in the state.
Solar power is also abundant in Arizona, further supporting a strong EV market by coupling EV charging with the power of renewable electricity. And of course, the people of Arizona love that EVs are a better way to drive. Since EVs and EV charging go together like peanut butter and jelly, it’s no wonder that Arizona has the right recipe to lead the way on EV adoption.
Jonathan Levy is chief commercial officer at EVgo. Prior to EVgo, he was the director of policy and strategy at Vision Ridge Partners. Previously, Levy served as deputy chief of staff to U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and as a policy advisor to then-Congressman Rahm Emanuel, in addition to serving in the Obama Administration in a variety of positions at the U.S. Department of Energy and the White House.
Kevin Pavlov
Chief Executive Officer
ElectraMeccanica Vehicles Corp.
Sector: Electric Vehicles
Arizona has continually been on the forefront of renewables, from embracing solar energy projects to interest in electric vehicles. For EVs in particular, Arizona has been forward-thinking in terms of laws and incentives that raise awareness and encourage adoption.
Arizona, and Phoenix specifically, is also unique in that it is one of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S. More cities and more people mean more emissions, driving an increased demand for electric vehicles. But it also raises an even bigger challenge — urbanization — and how we can better adapt mobility for the way people need it today.
The way we travel has changed, by our behavior but also by how more densely crowded places have become. We travel shorter distances, less often and typically by ourselves. Going electric is key for adapting transportation for the future, but so is rethinking the idea of the car entirely. We don’t need full-size, gas-guzzling vehicles for what we do every day. We’re overdue for a mobility revolution, and going electric is just the start of even greater change.
Kevin Pavlov brings more than two decades of automotive experience with an accomplished background and domain-specific expertise working along OEMs and globally recognized tier-one suppliers. Prior to ElectraMeccanica, Pavlov most recently served as COO of Karma Automotive. He has held various other senior positions at different groups throughout Magna International.
