The American Automobile Association (AAA) has been helping drivers navigate the United States almost as long as the first cars hit the road, with a history that dates back to its founding in 1902. Today, AAA is embracing the next generation of drivers by ramping up efforts to serve the electric vehicle (EV) community. Those services include offering discounts at EV charging stations, support from its Roadside Assistance teams, and planning tools to help make road trips easier.
AAA’s first foray into EV services came in 2010 when the nonprofit organization explored a “few prototype technologies that could be used to charge” EVs at the roadside. AAA took another major step forward in December 2022 when it announced a new pilot phase of mobile electric charging solutions in more than a dozen markets nationwide.
Photo Courtesy AAA
“As automakers continue to incorporate advanced styling and the latest innovative technology into electric vehicles, we are committed to learning, developing, and servicing the vehicles our members are driving,” Cliff Ruud, AAA’s managing director of automotive solutions, said in a news release.
One goal of the 2022 pilot program was to ease “range anxiety,” which refers to the fear of not having enough battery power before reaching the next charging station. AAA called range anxiety the “number one barrier between consumers and wider EV adoption.”
To address the problem, AAA provides specialized trucks equipped with mobile EV chargers that offer “enough range to get drivers home or to the nearest charging station.”
The 2022 pilot program provided services to the following cities:
- San Francisco, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Orlando, Florida
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Avon, Massachusetts
- Peabody, Massachusetts
- West Springfield, Massachusetts
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Bend, Oregon
- Portland, Oregon
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Nashville, Tennessee
AAA expanded its EV services in July 2023 when it added the following new markets to its Mobile EV Charging pilot:
- Walnut Creek, California
- Boise, Idaho
- Union, New Jersey
- Columbus, Ohio
- Eugene, Oregon
- Medford/Ashland/Grants Pass, Oregon
- Salem, Oregon
- Redmond, Washington
- Seattle, Washington
In a news release, AAA said it “will continue to assess the demand for mobile electric vehicle charging and will add locations as needed.” The organization will also explore various mobile methods to improve the member experience as part of this evaluation.
Photo Courtesy AAA
AAA has a wide reach among American motorists, providing more than 61 million members with automotive, travel, insurance, and financial services through a federation of 32 motor clubs, with more than 1,000 branch offices across North America.
Its EV programs come amid steady growth in the U.S. electric market. According to data from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book, a record 1.2 million U.S. auto buyers purchased EVs in 2023. The EV share of the total U.S. vehicle market stood at an estimated 7.6% in 2023, up from 5.9% the previous year.
Photo Courtesy AAA
Cox Automotive expects EVs to grab an even more significant share of the overall U.S. auto market in 2024 due to a rise in the number of EVs and more buyer incentives, inventory, leasing options, and charging infrastructure. The Cox team expects the EV share of the U.S. market to hit 10% this year.
