Plug In America
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Plug In America firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Where Plug In America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plug In America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Plug In America product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Plug In America
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Plug In America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Plug In America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, core and regional.
- Sierra ClubflagshipSierra 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 CoalitionflagshipElectrification 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.
- ForthflagshipForth 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)flagshipSierra 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.
- EarthjusticeflagshipEarthjustice 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)flagshipNRDC 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 InternationalmajorEdison 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)coreElectric 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 NoirecoreEV 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 USAcoreDrive 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 ReportsflagshipPlug 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.
- EPRIcorePlug 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 AmericamajorKia America partnered with Plug In America to amplify EV sales support for Northeast Kia dealers through the PlugStar program, providing dealer training and resources.
- DoorDashmajorPlug In America partnered with DoorDash to drive EV adoption in the Bay Area, integrating EV education into DoorDash's driver and merchant networks.
- Wells FargomajorWells 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)coreNADA 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 EnergycoreCenter 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.
- AvistaregionalAvista 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)coreSDG&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
Plug In America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Plug In America social profiles
Digital presencePlug In America compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Plug In America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plug In America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Plug In America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plug In America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plug In America
What does Plug In America do?
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.
Is Plug In America a public or private company?
Plug In America is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Plug In America founded?
Plug In America was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Plug In America based?
Plug In America is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Plug In America make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and charitable contributions are the primary driver. The others are federal and grant funding and plugStar utility and stakeholder partnerships.
Who are Plug In America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sierra Club, Electrification Coalition, Forth, Electric Vehicle Association (EVA), Center for Sustainable Energy and Drive Electric USA. EV Hybrid Noire is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and Consumer Reports. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is listed as an others.
Does Plug In America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plug In America.