Plug In America

What Plug In America does

Plug In America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that accelerates plug-in electric vehicle adoption through consumer education, dealer training, policy advocacy, and research. Its core programmatic assets include PlugStar — a brand-neutral EV shopping and dealer-training platform that has certified more than 1,000 dealer and manufacturer sales staff from over a dozen automakers — and the EV Support Center, which delivers free one-on-one guidance to consumers via phone, email, and live chat in English and Spanish. The organization runs two flagship nationwide awareness campaigns, Drive Electric Earth Month (April) and National Drive Electric Month (September/October), collectively reaching hundreds of events across 41+ states and, as of 2025, extending into Canada and Mexico.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its platform stack centers on PlugStar.com (consumer comparison tools for vehicles, home chargers, incentives, and certified dealers) and the EV Guide annual publication. Research capabilities rest on the Annual EV Driver Survey, conducted each year since 2021 with 5,000+ respondents and supplemented by state-level studies with EPRI and a charging-experience collaboration with Consumer Reports. Policy resources include the AchiEVe Policy Toolkit, the NEVI EV Charger Tracker, and the EV Charging for All Coalition materials.

Revenue mechanics rely on three streams: individual and organizational donations (it is a registered 501(c)(3) with EIN 26-1799615), federal and state grants (including a U.S. Department of Energy grant for nationwide EV education and a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center grant), and fee-based PlugStar professional services sold to utilities and stakeholders for dealer recruitment, training, and co-branded resources. Operations are fully remote with a staff of approximately 14 distributed across the country, a 15-member board of directors, and an advisory council supporting its consumer, dealer, utility, policymaker, employer, and multifamily-housing stakeholder segments.

Name

Plug In America

Legal name

Plug In America

Website

https://pluginamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plug In America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 that accelerates EV adoption through consumer education, dealer training via PlugStar, nationwide awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, and annual driver surveys, serving consumers, dealers, utilities, automakers, and policymakers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 26-1799615), Plug In America relies on donor support from individuals and organizations to fund its operations, programs, and advocacy work.
2. Federal and grant funding: The organization receives federal grant funding, including a Department of Energy grant for a nationwide EV education campaign, to support educational and outreach initiatives.
3. PlugStar utility and stakeholder partnerships: PlugStar programs are offered to utilities and stakeholders for a fee, including dealer recruitment, training sessions, and co-branded resources that help utilities increase EV adoption in their service territories.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Plug In America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accelerates electric vehicle adoption through free consumer education, PlugStar dealer training and shopping tools, an EV Support Center providing one-on-one driver assistance, national EV awareness campaigns, pro-EV policy advocacy, and annual consumer research. Core services are delivered at no cost to consumers, with fee-based PlugStar engagements offered to utilities, automakers, and dealerships.

Product overview

Plug In America operates as a nonprofit organization with a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on accelerating EV adoption through education, advocacy, and research. The core product ecosystem centers on PlugStar, a brand-neutral EV shopping assistant platform with dealer training and consumer tools, complemented by the EV Support Center providing one-on-one expert assistance. The organization runs major awareness campaigns including Drive Electric Earth Month (April) and National Drive Electric Month (September/October), and recognizes EV leadership through the annual Drive Electric Awards. Policy advancement is supported via the AchiEVe Policy Toolkit and the NEVI EV Charger Tracker. Research capabilities include the Annual EV Driver Survey program spanning 2021-2026. Federal EV tax credit educational resources and workplace charging solutions (including EVAL Certification) round out the service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlugStar: An EV shopping assistant program with dealer training, tools, and helpline support for consumers, dealers, electric utilities, and others. The program has trained over 1,000 dealer and manufacturer sales staff with PlugStar trained sales staff selling 4 times as many EVs as untrained sales staff.

Products and services

• PlugStar Brand-neutral EV shopping platform combining dealer training certification for auto sales staff, consumer shopping tools (vehicle comparison, incentive lookup, charging station map, home charger comparison, dealer finder), and turn-key utility engagement programs. Trained sales staff sell 4x more EVs than untrained staff; customers rate PlugStar dealers 4.6/5 vs 3.5/5 industry average.
• EV Support Center Free personalized assistance program for current and prospective EV drivers, providing answers on vehicles, charging, incentives, and EV-related questions via phone (1-877-EV-HELP-1), email, and live chat in English and Spanish.
• Drive Electric Earth Month (DEEM) Nationwide April EV education campaign featuring test drives, workshops, family-friendly activities, and community events to promote electric vehicle adoption and highlight EV cost savings, performance, and health benefits.
• National Drive Electric Month Annual fall campaign with hundreds of events across the nation raising awareness about the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The 2025 edition expanded to a month-long format with events in 41 states.
• Drive Electric Awards Annual awards program recognizing individuals and organizations leading the electric vehicle movement across categories including Business Leadership, Community Changemaker, Government Leadership, EV City, Utility, Organization, and Advocate.
• NEVI EV Charger Tracker Interactive map and tracking tool showing NEVI-funded charging station deployment across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, monitoring progress of the $5 billion NEVI formula program plus $2.5 billion in competitive grants.
• EVAL Certification (EV Adoption Leadership) Workplace charging certification backed by the U.S. Department of Energy, recognizing organizations that offer clean transportation options to employees, with technical assistance, resources, and recognition tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
• AchiEVe Policy Toolkit Model EV policy guide helping decision-makers and advocates move EV policies forward, covering vehicle electrification acceleration, battery lifecycle management, and best-practice EV legislation for federal, state, and local adoption.
• Affordable and Convenient Access to EV Charging Toolkit Resource containing 20 case studies, data analysis, and mapping of charging solutions for multifamily housing, including best practices for communities improving EV charging access for renters.
• Annual EV Driver Survey Program Annual consumer survey program tracking EV driver sentiment, charging behavior, and satisfaction since 2021, with state-specific reports for California, Texas, and national findings.
• Plug In America EV Guide Annual comprehensive PDF guide listing EVs currently available in the United States, including vehicle comparison information and EV charging 101 content, available in English and Spanish.

Quantifiable outcome

• PlugStar trained sales staff sell 4 times as many EVs as untrained sales staff
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, core and regional.

• Sierra ClubflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Sierra Club is a co-organizer and founding partner of major Plug In America campaigns including AchiEVe policy guide (2026), Drive Electric Earth Month, and National Drive Electric Week/Month. Together the organizations advocate for EV policy at federal, state, and local levels and co-host events nationwide.
• Electrification CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Electrification Coalition co-authored the AchiEVe 2026 Policy Guide with Plug In America, Sierra Club, and Forth, providing strategic guidance on state and local EV policy implementation.
• ForthflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026Forth co-authored the AchiEVe 2026 Policy Guide alongside Plug In America, Sierra Club, and Electrification Coalition, contributing implementation experience to help advocates and policymakers accelerate EV adoption.
• Sierra Club (Legal Partnership)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026Sierra Club joined Plug In America, Earthjustice, and NRDC as co-plaintiffs in the successful lawsuit protecting the $5 billion NEVI Formula Program, with a federal court permanently barring DOT from interfering with the program.
• EarthjusticeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026Earthjustice co-litigated with Plug In America, Sierra Club, NRDC, and 17 states to protect the NEVI Formula Program funding, resulting in a permanent court order protecting $5 billion in federal EV charging infrastructure funds.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026NRDC joined Plug In America, Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and 17 states as plaintiffs in the lawsuit protecting the $5 billion NEVI Formula Program, achieving a permanent injunction.
• Edison InternationalmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025Edison International funded the 2026 Drive Electric Earth Month (DEEM) grant program, awarding grants to support two event organizers in California to host DEEM events.
• Electric Vehicle Association (EVA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Electric Vehicle Association co-organizes Drive Electric Earth Month events alongside Plug In America, Sierra Club, EV Hybrid Noire, and Drive Electric USA, with events also held in Canada and Mexico.
• EV Hybrid NoirecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025EV Hybrid Noire co-organizes Drive Electric Earth Month with Plug In America and other sustainability organizations, focusing on diverse community engagement and EV education.
• Drive Electric USAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025Drive Electric USA co-organizes Drive Electric Earth Month events with Plug In America, Sierra Club, Electric Vehicle Association, and EV Hybrid Noire across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
• Consumer ReportsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Plug In America partnered with Consumer Reports on an effort to better understand the EV charging experience, combining Plug In America's annual EV driver survey data with Consumer Reports' consumer testing methodology.
• EPRIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2024Plug In America and EPRI jointly conducted annual EV consumer surveys exploring nuances with EV drivers in California, Texas, and nationally, producing state-level reports and insights on EV experience and confidence.
• Kia AmericamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 October 2022Kia America partnered with Plug In America to amplify EV sales support for Northeast Kia dealers through the PlugStar program, providing dealer training and resources.
• DoorDashmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2022Plug In America partnered with DoorDash to drive EV adoption in the Bay Area, integrating EV education into DoorDash's driver and merchant networks.
• Wells FargomajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 July 2022Wells Fargo partnered with Plug In America's PlugStar program as part of the DoorDash, Kia, and Wells Fargo partnership expansion, supporting EV dealer and consumer engagement.
• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2022NADA announced a dealership EV education program in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Energy and Plug In America, integrating PlugStar dealer training into NADA's professional development offerings.
• Center for Sustainable EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2022Center for Sustainable Energy co-developed the NADA dealership EV education program alongside Plug In America and NADA, focusing on EV dealer training and consumer education.
• AvistaregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2022Avista partnered with Plug In America and auto dealers to educate consumers about EV benefits in Avista's service territory, supporting utility EV program adoption.
• San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SDG&E partnered with Plug In America to launch the nation's first EV dealership certification curriculum through PlugStar, training 12 dealerships from seven automakers. SDG&E's EV Customer Engagement team led the initiative.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sierra Club: Co-organizer of National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric Earth Month, and AchiEVe policy guide, and co-plaintiff in the NEVI lawsuit. Operates as a parallel environmental advocacy nonprofit with overlapping EV campaign infrastructure.
• Electrification Coalition: Co-author of the AchiEVe 2026 Policy Guide alongside Plug In America. National nonprofit focused on policies that accelerate fleet and consumer vehicle electrification — directly overlapping on federal/state EV policy advocacy.
• Forth: Co-author of the AchiEVe 2026 Policy Guide. Regional mobility nonprofit that has been a long-standing co-organizer of National Drive Electric Week; comparable to Plug In America in mission (accelerating electric transportation) and policy-toolkit focus.
• Electric Vehicle Association (EVA): Co-organizer of Drive Electric Earth Month. National EV owner/enthusiast association running the same type of community-led ride-and-drive and educational events that Plug In America built its grassroots network on.
• Center for Sustainable Energy: Co-developed the NADA dealership EV education program with Plug In America. Operates statewide EV incentive administration and consumer education programs that directly overlap with the EV Support Center and dealer training.
• Drive Electric USA: Co-organizer of Drive Electric Earth Month. A coalition of Clean Cities coordinators and EV advocates running coordinated national EV awareness events, structurally aligned with Plug In America's community-led campaign model.

Emerging players

• EV Hybrid Noire: Co-organizer of Drive Electric Earth Month. Niche nonprofit focused on EV education and adoption in diverse communities; a smaller-scope counterpart running comparable grassroots events and education campaigns.

Broad incumbents

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): Strategic partner integrating PlugStar training into NADA's professional development. As the dominant U.S. dealer trade body, NADA is a channel partner and a broad incumbent whose dealer education programs sit alongside Plug In America's.
• Consumer Reports: Research partner collaborating on EV charging experience analysis using Plug In America's survey data. A larger consumer-research incumbent with overlapping EV evaluation and education content.

Others

• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI): Joint researcher on annual EV consumer surveys in California, Texas, and nationally. Not a consumer-facing peer but a research counterpart whose utility-sponsored EV studies inform the same policy and infrastructure conversations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pluginamerica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pluginamerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/pluginamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plug-in-america
• Instagraminstagram.com/pluginamerica

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plug In America