Ray Addison leads sales and marketing for GoStation, so he’s no stranger to the ways electric vehicles can improve air quality. But while these benefits are often needed the most in under-resourced communities, they typically remain an afterthought for EV charging solutions.
So when Ray saw the opportunity to help build a community Green District in Charlotte’s Historic West End, he jumped at it.
“I consider all of Charlotte to be my community,” says Ray. “I wanted to dedicate my time and my energy to making a positive impact on the Charlotte community.
Ray worked closely with CleanAIRE NC and community advocates to deploy charging stations along the Beatties Ford Road corridor. The stations serve a dual purpose. They bring in new technology and innovation, helping neighborhoods recognize that the EV transition is coming. And growing EV usage will reduce the harmful emissions from gas-powered vehicles.
Ray attributes the success of the Historic West End Green District to the strong partnerships developed between the community, non-profit, and business. He sees that approach as something that can and should be replicated in communities across North Carolina. “Any fruitful partnership is one that’s rooted in trust and collaboration,” Ray says. “The way CleanAIRE NC went about getting input and feedback from the community, and applying solutions with the voice of the community, makes for an incredible recipe that continues to produce results.”
