(Credit: EVPassport)
EVPassport has partnered with the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Indian tribe and Maada’oozh LLC to build the largest electric vehicle charging superhub in North America.
The new superhub will be located at the Viejas Casino and Resort, where 410 of EVPassport’s L2 chargers and 8 of its dual-port DC Fast Chargers will be installed. The location of the casino, along Interstate 8, will allow those traveling on the major road to use the chargers as well. Building of the charging hub is expected to begin in the spring of 2024.
“The Viejas are using its resources to do our part to solve the climate and energy crisis,” said Erich Hans, Viejas director of treasury and chief financial officer. “Our customers want EV Charging options at our Casino and Resort, so we are delivering them that, but we also want to help the community, region, and state by building a game-changing EV Charging Superhub to provide options on Highway 8 and to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.”
With this agreement, EVPassport CEO Hooman Shahidi emphasized the importance of pairing private-sector investment with public-sector partnerships in order to accelerate EV adoption in the United States.
The Viejas’s Efforts to Build a More Sustainable Reservation
The new superhub marks yet another project the Viejas tribe has undertaken in order to make their Southern California reservation sustainable and carbon-free.
In 2022, the Viejas received a $31 million grant to fund a solar PV long-duration energy storage system, which provides backup power for the reservation as well as support for California’s grid.
The project, done in partnership with Indian Energy, a 100% Native-owned energy developer, and the California Energy Commission, will use onsite renewable energy generation. The superhub project also involves a partnership with a Native-owned company, Maada’oozh, a distribution, logistics, and maintenance operation that provides sustainable energy solutions for Native American Tribes, the U.S. military, and other customers.
The tribe is also in the process of renovating its buildings with energy-efficient equipment to further reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
Other programs implemented by the Viejas include recycling and composting programs, air quality monitoring, and a drought emergency program.