Success Stories

County of Ventura Awarded $12 Million for Equitable & Resilient EV Charging Infrastructure Deployment

County of Ventura’s successful application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program, Powering Progress: Building Sustainable Mobility and Energy Resiliency in Ventura County, will bring $12 million in funding to the region for equitable and resilient electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment! The funds will support the “Powering Progress” project which implements the Ventura County Regional EV Blueprint and supports the larger sustainability goals set forward by the state of California to achieve 100% zero emission vehicle sales. The grant will provide funds for solar and battery storage, off-grid EV charging for rural communities, e-bike charging, workforce development programs, and EV-related engagement efforts!

The “Powering Progress” projects will be administered by the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance – a regional energy office overseen by the County of Ventura.

SBMTD Celebrates 40-Foot Battery-Electric Buses & Level 3 EV Chargers

A ribbon-cutting event was held on October 17, 2023 to celebrate the arrival of SBMTD’s first two 40-foot zero-emission battery-electric buses and the installation of 14 new heavy-duty vehicle chargers!SBMTD has operated smaller battery-electric buses since the early 1990s and is excited to continue to grow their fleet with a total of nine 40-foot electric buses to be delivered soon. Congratulations to SBMTD for achieving this milestone towards their goal of having an 100% zero-emissions fleet by 2030!

C5 applauds SBMTD for their long-standing leadership in adopting alternative fuel vehicles and thanks the local partners who helped these projects come to fruition! SBMTD received funding from the Santa Barbara County APCD’s Clean Air Grants Program and Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready Transport Project to support these projects.

First Direct-Current Fast-Charging (DCFC) Station Installed in Carpinteria

A ribbon-cutting event was held on April 10, 2023 to celebrate the opening of the first direct-current fast-charging (DCFC) station in Carpinteria! This DCFC was installed by The Towbes Group, who received approximately $100,000 in funding from the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District’s (APCD) Clean Air Grants Program to support this project.

C5 amends The Towbes Group for their efforts to expand our region’s EV charging network and looks forward to supporting future AFV infrastructure projects! You can find this DCFC at The Shepards Place Shops located at 1001 Casitas Pass Road (and on the AFDC Station Locator).

Adoption of the County of Santa Barbara’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Policy

On February 14, 2023, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors moved to adopt the County’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Policy that requires internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in their vehicle fleet to be replaced with battery electric vehicles (EVs) once reaching end of life.

The purpose of the County’s ZEV Policy is to “accelerate the rate of greenhouse gas emissions in support of the County of Santa Barbara’s Climate Action Plan, and improve Santa Barbara County Air air quality.”

C5 is excited to see the benefits this policy brings to the region and looks forward to working with the County to leverage available funding opportunities to help fund new ZEVs and fueling infrastructure!

New EV ARC Chargers Installed in Goleta & Lompoc

The cities of Goleta and Lompoc have both designated areas for their first EV ARC charging stations. Located at Goleta City Hall and the Lompoc Valley Medical Center, the off-grid, solar-powered EV ARCs are available for public electric vehicle charging, and will also serve as mobile emergency preparedness and energy resiliency assets for the cities.

Opening of Santa Barbara’s First Hydrogen Fueling Station

In May 2016, Santa Barbara celebrated the opening of its first hydrogen fueling station! The True Zero station was co-funded by the California Energy Commission and is a big step toward broadening the reach of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. It is based at a local gas station, and much like a traditional fuel pump can fill a car with 300 miles of range in 3-5 minutes, connecting the Central Coast to the California hydrogen network.

“Idling Gets You Nowhere” Campaign at SLO Earth Day 2012

The ‘Idling Gets You Nowhere’ campaign launched on Earth Day (April 22) 2012 at El Chorro Regional Park in San Luis Obispo. C5 hosted an alternative fuel car show that showcased local AFV owners and their vehicles. Congresswoman Lois Capps was the first individual to sign and pledge to the ‘Idling Gets You Nowhere’ campaign.

SLO Car Free

In September 2009, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (SLOAPCD) launched the successful San Luis Obispo (SLO) Car Free coalition. With goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean air along the Central Coast, the partnership between APCD and SLO Car Free invites both locals and visitors alike to consciously promote clean air quality when traveling.

The SLO Car Free coalition provides visitors with the means to travel in the San Luis Obispo area without the use of their personal vehicle and partners with local restaurants and hotels to offer incentives for participants. Visitors that pledge to travel car-free in the San Luis Obispo area are offered and provided discounts and enticements by local restaurants and hotels that believe in the mission of preserving and promoting clean air.

By Natalie Stone

2,866,076

gallons of gasoline equivalent reduced in 2022

23,893

tons of GHG emissions reduced in 2022

15,912

zero-emission vehicles registered in C5 territory