As transportation electrification enters its next phase, electric utilities are taking on an increasingly important role in helping customers and communities navigate the transition while preparing the electric grid for a more connected energy and transportation future.
Chartwell is celebrating the leadership of its Electric Vehicle Leadership Council members during National Drive Electric Month, from September 11 through October 12, 2026. Electric Vehicle Leadership Council utility members collectively serve more than 60 million customers across North America and are advancing transportation electrification through customer education and engagement, charging programs and infrastructure, fleet electrification, managed charging, partnerships and grid integration.
National Drive Electric Month provides an opportunity for utilities to connect directly with customers and communities through Ride and Drive events, educational programs and other activities designed to help customers experience electric vehicles and better understand charging, rates, incentives and other aspects of EV ownership. But the utility role in transportation electrification is becoming much broader.
More than 20 million electric cars were sold globally in 2025, representing one in four new cars sold worldwide, according to the International Energy Agency. Approximately 23 million electric cars are projected to be sold globally in 2026. While EV adoption and market conditions vary considerably across North America, utilities are increasingly preparing for the long-term convergence of transportation and the electric grid.
Chartwell research shows that the utility role is already expanding beyond supplying electricity to helping customers navigate rates and charging, supporting infrastructure development, advising commercial customers and fleets, and understanding the customer experience.
That means looking beyond EV adoption to address how and when vehicles charge, how fleets transition to electric transportation, where charging infrastructure is needed, how new electric loads can be managed, and how transportation electrification can deliver benefits for customers, communities and the grid. In fact, Chartwell’s 2025 Electric Vehicle Benchmark Survey found that 54% of utilities provide incentives for EV charging infrastructure while 51% provide EV advisory services.
“Leading utilities are moving beyond their role as electricity provider to trusted advisor. By providing smart incentives and advisory services, utilities are shaping this new load growth to maximize benefits for the utility and their customers,” said Karl Popham, EV Leadership Council Chair and Senior Consultant, Chartwell Inc.
Electric Vehicle Leadership Council Member Spotlight: PSE&G
“As more New Jersey drivers are considering electric vehicles, PSE&G is here to help our customers understand their options and what going electric could look like for them,” said Dawn Neville, senior manager of Electric Transportation at PSE&G. “During Drive Electric Month, we are out in communities across New Jersey talking directly with customers about EVs, answering their questions, and sharing information about charging at home. We’re here to connect customers with the programs that can help them decide whether an EV makes sense for their needs.”
PSE&G Events:
September 19 West Windsor Community Day Princeton, NJ
September 26 GreenFest Newark Newark, NJ
October 3 Madison EV Expo Madison, NJ
October 18 Springfield Fallapallooza Springfield, NJ
Contact: [email protected]
Bringing EV Leaders Together at EMACS 2026
The evolving role of utilities in transportation electrification will also be part of the conversation as utility leaders from across North America gather for Chartwell’s Electric Vehicle Leadership Council meeting and EMACS – The Customer Experience Conference in Atlanta from September 22–24. For more information or to register, see: chartwellinc.com/EMACS.
The EV Leadership Council brings utility professionals together throughout the year to exchange ideas, benchmark programs, share best practices and explore emerging transportation electrification challenges and opportunities.
At EMACS 2026, EV utility leaders will explore today’s key topics, including:
Turning eMobility Investments Today into Revenue Makers Tomorrow
Andrew Farrell, Director of E-Mobility, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.
Masterclass in Securing Buy-In for the Next-Gen Grid
Moderator: Karl Popham, Electric Vehicle Consultant, Chartwell Inc.
Panelists:
Richie Biedenham, Electric Vehicle Program Manager, Cleco Power
Jamila Jarmon, Manager, Growth Strategy, Electrification of Transportation, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
Stevie Rosen, Director of Innovation, Bidgely
Georgia Power’s Collaborative Blueprint for Transportation Electrification
Tray Leslie, Electric Transportation Manager, Georgia Power
Scaling Grid-Integrated Infrastructure for the Next Era of Transportation
Moderator: Karl Popham, Electric Vehicle Consultant, Chartwell Inc.
Panelists:
Paul DiBenedetto, Electric Vehicle Program Manager, PSEG Long Island
Katie Davis, Manager, Beneficial Electrification, ComEd
Together, the Electric Vehicle Leadership Council and EMACS provide utility professionals with opportunities to learn from peers who are addressing many of the same questions: How can utilities make transportation electrification easier for customers? How can fleets successfully transition? How should charging be integrated with the grid? What role will managed charging and emerging technologies play? And how can utilities ensure transportation electrification creates meaningful benefits for customers and communities?
As the energy and transportation ecosystems continue to converge, Chartwell’s EV Leadership Council members are helping move the industry forward — from encouraging EV awareness and adoption to building the programs, infrastructure, customer experiences and grid capabilities needed for the next phase of transportation electrification.
About Chartwell’s Electric Vehicle Leadership Council: Created in 2023, the Electric Vehicle Leadership Council provides an engaging forum for utility professionals to collaborate with peers to enhance their personal and organizational role as a Trusted Advisor in transportation electrification.
To find out more about the benefits of membership in Chartwell’s Electric Vehicle Leadership Council, email Tim Herrick at [email protected].
Based in Atlanta, Chartwell Inc. is a specialized information provider for the utility industry. We provide strategic research and facilitate issue-targeted forums for collaboration among industry peers. Our wide range of services ensures that our members have access to the best, most timely information available to make their business decisions.
