The spark that ignited the National Charging Access Coalition (NCAC) began with a simple yet pressing realization: for millions of Americans, being able to drive an electric vehicle (EV) is no longer about the car—it’s about the charging. Co-founder Sven Thesen saw firsthand that one of the biggest hurdles to EV adoption is the lack of access to charging at home—the most convenient, inexpensive, reliable and safe place to charge. 

Determined to expand access, in 2020 Sven gathered a group of passionate EV experts to form the EV Charging for All Coalition (EVCAC). With significant support from Acterra—along with California Interfaith Power & Light, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and over 1400 housing and climate advocates, labor, industry, faith-based groups, and utilities—EVCAC catalyzed California to increase requirements for EV charging in new multi-family housing. Thanks to this work, California is now the first state to require the gold standard of directly-wired EV charging for all new multi-family units with parking.

As the movement gained momentum, the leadership team recognized the need to expand their mission beyond state lines. To go national, EVCAC’s leaders began working closely with Plug In America, creating the nation’s first EV Building Codes Toolkit. In 2024, co-founder Vanessa Warheit recruited additional partner organizations, including RMI, NASEO, and Argonne National Labs, to craft a successful proposal to the federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (JOET) to advance a suite of policies expanding EV charging access in jurisdictions around the country. 

While EVCAC continues to operate as a program of Acterra, the non-Acterra-staff members of EVCAC’s leadership team decided in the fall of 2024 to form their own nonprofit with the fiscal sponsorship of Community Initiatives. Thus NCAC was born—a bold step toward ensuring that no one is left behind in the electric transportation revolution.

Although the JOET grant has been frozen by the current administration, NCAC continues to advocate for policies that prioritize accessible, affordable EV charging for everyone. From apartments in urban centers to rental homes in rural communities, our mission is clear: to make electric mobility an affordable reality for all Americans. Because driving electric isn’t just the future—it’s a right we all deserve.