Beneficial State Bank in 2019 received funding to build 10 electric-vehicle chargers at its Fresno location. Photo contributed

Beneficial State bank in Fresno, 170 W. Shaw Ave., has installed 10 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers available to the public.

The chargers were installed with the support of a partnership with the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) to increase EV charging availability in Fresno County.

The goals of the partnership are to support access to pollution-free transportation, improve local air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CALeVIP is funded by the California Energy Commission and managed by the Center for Sustainable Energy. The organization reserved $40,000 for the charger installation at the bank.

The CALeVIP’s Fresno County Incentive Project is providing $4 million in incentives to owners of apartments, condominiums, workplaces, public agencies and commercial properties for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EV chargers in Fresno County.

“Making it easier to charge electric cars in Fresno is critical to this community’s transition from polluting petroleum-based vehicles to clean transportation, which will provide cleaner air and countless public health benefits. And access to charging not only supports individual EV ownership, it also supports e-mobility services that make clean transportation available to all Californians,” said Commissioner of the Energy Commission Patty Monahan. “The Energy Commission is proud to be working with our partners on this project and throughout the state to increase access to the charging infrastructure that makes this transition possible.”

A startup supported by the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Green Commuters, worked with Beneficial State Bank to apply for the funding to install the 10 chargers.

The Beneficial State Bank project was also given $50,000 from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Charge Up! Program, which helps businesses and public agencies in the Valley purchase publicly accessible Level 2 chargers.

“Everyone needs access to safe, reliable and affordable transportation. We are investing in people and clean air by helping all Californians access reliable and clean transportation,” says Kat Taylor, CEO and founder of Beneficial State Bank and Foundation.