Community briefs

Charging EVS app means lower charges

To help its customers charge their electric vehicles with cheap, clean electricity, Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) has launched clean-energy events through the Gridshift: EV Charging app. Through May, Gridshift users can earn $5 electricity bill credits by participating in five or more of these events, designed to shift EV charging toward off-peak daytime hours.

The Gridshift: EV Charging app allows customers to align their EV charging with their electricity rate and renewable energy on the

California grid. Users are notified when there are substantial amounts of clean energy available on the grid and rewarding participants with rewards points that can be redeemed for electricity bill credits. During a pilot program that ran between November 2020 and February 2021, Gridshift users saved an average of $24 per month on their energy bills.

Gridshift is available to all SVCE customers for free. EV drivers in Cupertino can download the Gridshift app via Apple or Google Play and select notifications to receive an alert for low-carbon events.

Currently, Volkswagen (e-golf only), Tesla, Jaguar, Land Rover and Chargepoint chargers (internet-connected models only) are compatible with the app, with additional integrations due soon.

Trails survey

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is inviting visitors to share their thoughts about one-way trails at the open space preserves in its system. The survey at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/13647a25be 454a329863694dffec9716 is intended to ensure that the authority is “providing meaningful and functional experiences at our preserves.”