Plug In America announced the 2026 winners during a special live-stream event on Instagram on Nov. 10. Watch a recording of the awards show on Instagram or YouTube, and you can also see a list of the finalists here.
The 13 award winners span 10 categories and range from early-career professionals and public servants to municipalities and EV advocates who have worked to further EV adoption through policy, technology, advocacy, or outreach.
Business Award: First Student & it’s electric
First Student is North America’s largest school transportation provider, operating 48,000 vehicles across the U.S. and Canada. The innovative company is actively addressing the charging infrastructure challenges hindering electric school bus adoption by creating First Charge™, a proprietary charging solution designed specifically for electric school buses and medium- to heavy-duty fleets. First Charge uses an above-ground approach that reduces the need for conventional underground infrastructure, offering a more flexible path for installing and expanding charging capacity.
First Charge™ has already demonstrated measurable impact, achieving 13% in cost savings through its Con Edison partnership in Brooklyn and Queens. The company leverages software that schedules charging during off-peak hours when electricity is less expensive, helping optimize energy costs. In just the last school year, the company operated over 480 electric school buses, driving over 11.2 million electric miles, and First Student has ordered more than 550 additional EVs. They continue to explore vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-everything technologies, as well as the integration of solar and energy storage.
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Scalable overnight charging for urban EV drivers who park on the street is no longer impossible, thanks to it’s electric. Through the company’s innovative infrastructure, curbside EV charging access is expanding by leveraging existing electrical capacity in nearby buildings and the detachable-cable model used in Europe. This innovation makes installation much faster and far less expensive than traditional utility-connected charging.
Already operating in major cities across the country, the growing company recently won the contract to deploy curbside charging in New York City and was also awarded $2.9 million in state funding to bring its curbside charging to Philadelphia.
It’s electric is creating the opportunity to expand charging access for millions of drivers by turning a major barrier to EV adoption into an opportunity.
Community Changemaker: Eugen Dunlap
Eugen Dunlap is a longtime volunteer EV advocate whose hands-on work spans decades. Eugen got his start in 1998 when he completed the electrical conversions of a VW Beetle and a Ford Escort through courses at Sacramento City College. After leasing his EV1 in 2002, Eugen installed the first-ever public apartment EV chargers and participated in the 2005 protest against the destruction of the EV1 fleet. He did not let that stop him from leading impactful change in his community and went on to help secure funding for the installation of 17 chargers at seven Woodland Joint Unified School District sites. He also spearheaded the installation of 26 chargers at Muir Commons, one of California’s early multifamily communities. Eugen’s passion reached community events as well, helping organize and grow the EV showcase at UC Davis’s Whole Earth festival for over 10 years, introducing thousands of people to EVs before widespread adoption.
Eugen’s persistent grassroots leadership has been entirely volunteer-driven. From converting cars to advocating for charging access and introducing people to EVs long before mainstream popularity, Eugen continues his work today, serving as a Sacramento EV Association board member.
Emerging Leader: Tanner Coursey
Tanner Coursey, a finance professional based in Arlington, Texas, is going above and beyond budgets. Tanner took on the role of the EV point person for the city of Arlington–professionally known as the EV Ombud–where he is responsible for leading a coordinated effort across city departments and regional organizations to build the city’s EV charging program and expand its EV charging infrastructure. As the city’s EV resource, he is moving electrification projects forward and helping residents and staff navigate EV-related questions and resources.
His efforts led Arlington to become the first city in Texas to earn the Charging Smart Bronze designation. By establishing a clear EV charging permitting process, city residents and businesses can transition with confidence. Additionally, Tanner secured federal charging and fueling infrastructure grant funding for Level 2 and DC fast chargers at three city parks, specifically targeting geographic gaps in charging access. He helped create a citywide EV fleet analysis tool to guide department vehicle replacement decisions, expanding electrification beyond personal use. His initiatives are vast, from coordinating more accessible public charging to championing electric shuttle buses and more.
As a government employee, Tanner’s efforts and leadership turned his EV enthusiasm into real impact while he managed his responsibilities as a senior data financial management analyst.
Event Organizer Award: John Fitzmaurice
John Fitzmaurice, based in Massachusetts, is an EV enthusiast turned transportation electrification professional, using his passion and expertise to host hands-on experiences across the state. He started his EV journey in 2016 after attending an event, which sparked his interest in electrification. Fast forward, and John supported about 30 transportation electrification events in 2025 alone through his professional role, in addition to volunteering outside of work. He understands firsthand how experiencing an EV can change someone’s perspective.
John makes an effort to speak with more than 25 attendees at events and to support a few ride-and-drives annually. He continually captures attendees’ attention through demonstrations of charging equipment and the use of EVs to power displays, TVs, inflatables, and coffee stations. His creativity engages audiences who might not arrive at an event already interested in EVs. John designed an interactive EV City tabletop display, allowing him to visually demonstrate electric transportation concepts and continue interactive education indoors. His EV City is complete with custom stickers, roadways, solar, and miniature model vehicles. Additionally, his events are successful through partnerships with dealerships, automakers, and community groups, which bring in new vehicles and expertise. John’s presence extends beyond his work, as he is known in the community for his bright yellow Rivian R1T, a familiar attraction at EV events and a daily conversation starter.
EV Advocate: Dr. Chauné Fitzgerald
Dr. Chauné Fitzgerald’s advocacy goes beyond raising awareness about EVs in Eastern Washington. She is the founder and CEO of Women of Wisdom (WOW) Tri-Cities, which created WOW EV Carshare and WOW EV Charge. She built a functioning transportation resource that helps rural and underserved communities benefit from electric mobility. The program has grown into a shared fleet of 28 EVs–including an ADA-accessible van-serving 10 counties, giving people access to EVs without buying one or installing a home charger. WOW offers reduced-cost memberships for low-income users and Level 2 and Level 3 options across its network locations.
Dr. Fitzgerald created partnerships with universities, community colleges, credit unions, transit agencies, local governments, and community organizations to expand EV access. Her advocacy for rural and underserved communities is helping bring pollution-free transportation to communities that will benefit, connecting transportation access to environmental justice, public health, and education.
Government Leadership: Howard County, Maryland, and New York Power Authority
A suburban community with about 330,000 people, Howard County, Maryland, has made EV adoption a critical component of its climate strategy. In the county’s 2023 climate action & resiliency plan, meeting EV adoption goals is the single most impactful action that would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, since many residents drive long distances to work in Baltimore or Washington, D.C. The county has backed that priority with action, both inside the government and within the community.
In 2019, Howard County became the first Maryland jurisdiction to require that new homes be EV-ready, and in 2026 it extended charging requirements to new large commercial buildings. The county now offers 138 public charging ports in locations such as libraries, community centers, and 50+ centers, plus 93 ports dedicated to its own fleet, which includes 58 plug-in vehicles. It was also the 15th government nationally to sign the Department of Energy’s Charge@Work pledge, and its green fleet policy calls for every new administrative vehicle to be electric. Beyond its own operations, the county runs the Clean Miles Club to connect local EV drivers with those who are curious about making the switch.
It has also funded shared charging for townhome and condo communities and supports EV charger training for local electricians. EV share of vehicle registrations in Howard County rose from 3.7% in December 2023 to 6% in August 2026. Howard County shows how a local government can lead by example and give its residents the confidence to drive electric.
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New York Power Authority (NYPA) is New York’s public power organization, providing electricity and leading energy infrastructure projects, including EV charging. Over the last seven years, John Markowitz, the Senior Director of E-Mobility, and his team have grown the EVolve NY electric-vehicle fast-charging program into one of the largest public power charging networks in the country. The EVolve NY program makes EV travel easier across New York, from downtown areas to key travel corridors, from Niagara Falls to Long Island. The network also includes high-traffic locations, such as airports. This past year, the network reached a major milestone, with 300 fast chargers, and plans to expand to 400 by early 2027.
Linda Nicholes Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Moloughney
For 17 years, Tom Moloughney has been an advocate helping drivers confidently make the switch to electric. In 2009, he was one of the drivers in BMW’s MINI-e field trial, one of the first modern EV test programs in the U.S. The following year, he installed one of New Jersey’s first public J1772 charging stations at his pizza restaurant in Montclair. In 2014, he added the state’s first public CCS1 DC fast charger, long before fast charging was commonplace.
Tom went on to become one of the most trusted voices on EV charging. As a longtime senior editor at InsideEVs, he helped consumers understand charging standards, equipment, installation, and ownership. While serving on Plug In America’s board of directors, he co-created the PlugStar dealership training program and worked with more than 300 dealerships nationwide to help sales staff explain EVs to their customers. In 2020, Tom launched his State of Charge YouTube channel, which has grown to more than 520 videos, 23 million views, and 166,000 subscribers. Through his Recharge Rescue series, Tom travels to EV drivers with home charging problems and brings a licensed electrician to fix the problem at no cost.
From infrastructure and journalism to dealership training and hands-on help, Tom has made the switch to electric easier for thousands of drivers across the country.
Nonprofit Award: Charge Across Town
Founded in 2012, Charge Across Town (CAT) is a nonprofit organization that brings hands-on EV education to people typical EV marketing rarely reaches. The organization brings ride-and-drive events and charging demonstrations to places where communities already gather, such as local fairs, flea markets, and neighborhood events. More than 75% of its programs serve disadvantaged communities, and bilingual outreach is built into its approach.
Through hosting events and providing resources, Charge Across Town has gotten more than 25,000 people behind the wheel of an EV and has surveyed more than 50,000 consumers on what motivates them to go electric. In California’s Central Valley, one of the nation’s most polluted regions, CAT and partner Valley Clean Air Now helped bring more than 3,000 zero-emission vehicles to local drivers.
After more than a decade of building its model in California, CAT has expanded its impact across the nation. Charge Across Town shows that hands-on experience is one of the most effective ways to make EVs accessible to everyone.
Public Sector: Keith Kerman & Senator Bob Smith
New Jersey State Senator Bob Smith has spent years building the policy foundation for EV adoption in the Garden State. Across multiple legislative sessions, he has sponsored bills addressing nearly every part of the EV experience, ranging from the cost of buying one to charging locations and battery lifespan.
During the 2018-2019 legislative session, Senator Smith was the primary sponsor of legislation that set statewide EV adoption goals and created the framework for Charge Up New Jersey, the state’s point-of-sale EV incentive program. Since 2020, the program has granted nearly 90,000 incentives totaling $231 million. He then sponsored legislation, now law, setting statewide standards for EV charging and make-ready parking spaces in certain new developments. That law makes charging part of the plan from the start, instead of a costly retrofit later. He has also sponsored bills on charger reliability, and his legislation on responsible EV battery management became law in 2023.
Senator Smith’s record shows how steady and consistent policymaking can make driving electric more affordable, accessible, and reliable for an entire state.
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Keith Kerman has spent more than three decades in New York City government, and in 2011 he became the city’s first Chief Fleet Officer. Now Deputy Commissioner and Chief Fleet Officer at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, he oversees a fleet of 29,000 vehicles, the largest municipal fleet in the nation.
Under his leadership, NYC now has the largest electric and hybrid electric fleets in New York with about 6,000 EVs, nearly 5,000 hybrids, and nearly 2,600 charging ports. From police and fire to sanitation and snow plowing, he has shown that EVs can handle some of the most demanding jobs in a city. Keith has also opened city fleet charging to the public and launched a workplace charging initiative.
Keith’s impact reaches beyond New York: in collaboration with the U.S. DOT Volpe Center, his department is publishing the city’s Clean Fleet Transition plans to provide critical lessons learned and best practices to national public and private fleets. His work shows that fleet electrification can succeed at any scale, even in the nation’s largest city.
Storytelling/Marketing: Veloz
Veloz is a national nonprofit organization working towards a future where transportation is electric for all. In July 2025, they launched their The Way Forward is Electric campaign in all 50 states. The campaign unites automakers, utilities, charging companies, state agencies, and nonprofits behind one brand-neutral message focused on sharing the facts about EVs.
Storytelling is at the heart of the strategy. Voiced by Nick Offerman, the campaign puts real EV drivers front and center, showing how an EV fits into everyday lives, from apartment living to long commutes to tight budgets. Its materials are adapted to be culturally relevant, and ElectricForAll.org is available in 15 languages. In Veloz’s research, EV purchase intent among people who don’t own one rose from 58% to 74%.
