Electric vehicles are everywhere. A few years back, seeing an electric vehicle was quite the occasion, but now EVs are very common. It's difficult to go more than a few minutes without seeing an EV on the road—but the charging infrastructure isn't as commonplace. It stands to reason that as more and more EVs are sold, charging infrastructures will also continue to expand.The question is, are these charging networks as clean as the vehicles they're meant to charge? Which begs the question: what are the greenest charging networks in the US?

1. Electrify America

Ok, first up is Electrify America. The funny thing about this network of electric charging stations is that it's owned by Volkswagen. Yes, the same Volkswagen that was involved in the crazy diesel-gate scandal not so long ago. Now, Volkswagen is making amends. Not only is VW's electric vehicle lineup expanding, it's also trying to right the ship by investing money in charging infrastructure.

The new Volkswagen is all about green energy and doing the right thing. Electrify America is its way of trying to win back the trust of its customers and help to plant the seed of green energy wherever it can.

Towards this goal, Electrify America's energy output is backed by renewable energy certificates, which means that 100% of the energy it sells is backed by "renewable" energy. The actual electricity it sells can't be monitored and tracked. But, through the use of these renewable energy certificates, it can say, in theory, it's buying clean electricity.

Renewable energy certificates are a topic unto themselves, but the idea of these certificates does stem from a good place. The idea is to allow renewable energy plants to sell energy, as well as the certificate, which certifies that they produced that clean energy. Electrify America is also working on a solar farm. According to Electrify America, it will produce enough power annually to offset all the energy it sells in a year to people using its charging stations.

Once operational in 2023, the farm’s annual renewable energy is projected to offset the energy we currently deliver to drivers on an annualized basis across our entire public charging network.

The solar farm should be operational by 2023, and it promises to be a game changer in the world of EV charging providers. If Electrify America can upscale these solar farms and distribute them across the country, they can truly make a difference.

2. Tesla Supercharger Network

Tesla is the one EV company everyone will have their eyes on at all times. Not only does it offer amazing performance EVs, but it also offers a huge charging network. Whatever move Tesla makes is sure to be monitored closely by other companies in the segment.

The Supercharger network is the largest global EV charging network. Ideally, every Supercharger station would be completely powered by solar energy and disconnected from the local grid.

Of course, this is an ideal scenario, and it's not the reality of the moment. But, if you visit Tesla, it's evident they are focused on making Superchargers as eco-friendly as possible.

Our global network had 99.96% uptime and was 100% renewable in 2021, achieved through a combination of onsite resources and annual renewable matching

Tesla will also be adding Supercharger stations for its upcoming Tesla Semi, so it's important that they continue to develop renewable energy sources on-site for its stations.

Especially for the Semi, because trucks have to traverse remote locations at times, and a self-powered Supercharger in the middle of nowhere is a great idea. Tesla also makes an interesting case, saying that its Supercharger stations are actually going to be used less because Tesla vehicles have a longer range.

When the Model S was introduced, its range was less than what it is now. Substantially less, actually. So, due to the improvements in range that the Model S has received, owners need to charge their vehicles less at a Supercharger.

But, this is still not a substitute for going out and installing clean energy on-site for each Supercharger station. The good news is that this is exactly what Elon Musk envisions.

3. EVgo

EVgo is another company that provides charging services for electric vehicles. Like Electrify America, they also claim that their energy is 100% renewable, again through the use of RECs. Again, this is a great initiative, but it would be great to see on-site renewable energy being implemented across more charging stations.

According to EVgo, the company buys an REC for every kWh of energy it sells through its chargers. In places where the local grid is powered by 100% renewable energy, there's no need to provide on-site power for these charging stations. Hopefully, local power grids continue to get cleaner as well. Regardless, it's still an effort toward a cleaner future.

For every kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumed on our network, EVgo purchases a corresponding kWh Renewable Energy Credit (REC) from an accredited REC supplier.

EVgo has more than 850 stations across the US, and they feature fast charging, so you can top off your vehicle's battery quickly. The great thing is that you can charge your EV at their stations regardless of what model EV you drive.

Even Tesla vehicles can be charged at EVgo, so you're no longer relegated to a Supercharger if you drive a Tesla. EVgo offers different ways to pay for its service, with options ranging from paying on the spot for the single charging sessions all the way to monthly subscriptions that will save you money.

The Future of EV Charging Stations Is On-Site Renewable Energy

Renewable energy credits offer peace of mind to buyers that they're doing the right thing. But, this method has its limitations, and the ideal solution is charging using renewable energy directly from the source. This is the way to go, and it's awesome to see that this idea also has Elon Musk's support.