New EV Totem from Blink could solve electric fuel’s biggest problem
EV charging is everywhere now, and it’s reliable, accessible, and affordable. There thousands of public chargers are already out there – and, in some places, you’ll find more plugs than pumps. But if you don’t drive electric, you’d never know it. That’s because gas stations don’t just exist, they announce themselves with giant, illuminated signs that can be seen for miles, while EV chargers tend to just sort of sit, nestled away in the back of the parking lot.
That’s why the new EV Totem from Blink Charging is such a big deal. It doesn’t just charge your car, it stands tall, lights up, and tells the world: electric fuel is here, now.
If you were on a road trip, and your tank was low, how confident would you be in your ability to find gas if you were greeted by the sight of Breezewood, PA, above? We might shake our heads at late adopters of EVs, we might dismiss the things we don’t notice ourselves, but the fact remains that my father-in-law can drive some sea-to-shining-sea of this still (relatively) great country with no plan, no map, and no app, and feel pretty secure in his ability to find gas.
Can you honestly, before spirits of Henry, Lee, God, and the DSM-V, look at that picture and believe that your parents would have similar confidence in their ability to find charging?
Now, imagine that all those thousands of EV chargers that you and I both know are out there. Imagine they were Blink EV Totems. Twenty feet tall, fully illuminated, and proudly proclaimed that here, weary traveler, was a place that you could – if you had an EV – simply pull up and plug in. Just like the gas stations out there have been proclaiming for nearly a hundred years.
Do you think they’d feel better slipping behind the wheel of an EV then?
No need to imagine
Co-developed by Blink Charging and Universal Media, the EV Totem concept combines Blink car chargers with elevated, 55″ screens to help maximize their eye-catching visibility. It’s a clever solution, and, while we’ve seen chargers with screens before, lifting the screens up above the cars in a parking lot makes them significantly more visible.
But because it’s 2025 and everything is terrible, instead of the EV Totem’s screens simply announcing the availability of reliable EV charging nearby or educating consumers about off-peak savings and duck curves, they’re designed to serve non-stop ads while collecting data that, “provides real-time insights for brands and property partners.”
“The EV Totem is designed to transform EV charging into a smarter, connected platform — one that delivers value for drivers while unlocking new opportunities for brands, property partners, and communities,” said Todd Cohen, Co-founder and CEO of Universal Media LLC, without even the slightest hint of remorse.
Blink’s EV Totem units are available now, with the first units already in service at Mountain View Village, a retail and lifestyle destination (read: strip mall) in SLC.
Electrek’s Jo’s Take
Visibility matters, and electric charging stations are almost totally invisible in real life. What that means for most drivers is that, unless they’re in a Tesla or using a third-party app, they might have a tough time seeing public charging stations, even if they’re relatively close as the crow flies. Even if they’re plentiful.
The reality is that all those signs advertising gasoline create confidence on a subliminal level that gas, snacks, and restrooms are everywhere. Meanwhile, the EV charging signs (where they exist at all) are just too small, too bashful to be effective. EV charging is invisible to generations of ICE drivers, and we – as EV ambassadors – need to put ourselves in those drivers’ shoes, meet them where they are, and demand that the electric fuel industry do a better job of selling that same institutional kind of confidence.
SOURCES: Blink, Universal EVX; featured image by Ben Schumin, under Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
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bp pulse is continuing to roll out public DC fast charging across the US, and the company has opened its first-ever site in Arizona, along with new fast-charging locations in Texas, Florida, and Ohio.
In Arizona, bp pulse’s first site is now online at the Petro Travel Center in Eloy, just off Interstate 10 at Exit 200 (pictured). The location features 16 charging bays delivering up to 400 kilowatts, with both CCS and NACS connectors available. While charging, drivers can take advantage of the travel center’s onsite diner, convenience store, ATM, barber shop, and restrooms.
In South Florida, bp pulse’s new fast-charging site is at 2400 Miami Road in Fort Lauderdale, about three miles from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. The site features 16 charging bays, offering a mix of 150 kW and 400 kW speeds, with both CCS and NACS connectors. Its proximity to the airport makes it a handy stop for ride-hail drivers, EV rental returns, and airport pickups and drop-offs, with hotels, restaurants, and convenience stores nearby.
Texas is also getting more high-power charging, with a new bp pulse site at the Petro Travel Center in El Paso, located off Interstate 10 at Exit 37. This location offers 12 charging bays capable of delivering up to 400 kW, again with both CCS and NACS connectors. Drivers can take advantage of the diner, convenience store, barber shop, and restrooms while they charge.
In Ohio, bp pulse has opened a smaller but still high-powered site at a TravelCenters of America location in Hebron, just off Interstate 70 at Exit 126. The site includes six 400 kW charging bays with CCS and NACS connectors, along with access to a convenience store, fast-food options, and restrooms.
These openings are part of bp pulse’s broader plan to build out EV charging across bp’s retail footprint, including bp, Amoco, ampm, Thorntons, and TravelCenters of America locations. Many of those sites are designed to combine fast charging with food, restrooms, and other travel amenities. bp has also said it plans to begin adding EV chargers at Waffle House locations starting in 2026.
Read more: bp pulse opens a huge airport EV fast charging hub in Houston
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The Cadillac Lyriq and Chevy Blazer EV were among the vehicles that saw the biggest lease price drops in December.
Cadillac and Chevy EV lease prices drop in December
With the $7,500 federal EV tax credit now gone, automakers are filling the gap with their own incentives. Some are passing on the savings as bonus cash, conquest cash, lease discounts, and more.
Two General Motors electric SUVs, the Chevy Blazer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq, had some of the largest lease price drops of any vehicle in December.
The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq AWD Luxury model is now listed at $439 per month for 24 months. With $4,979 due at signing, the effective rate is $646, or $28 less per month than in November.
That’s after the Lyriq already saw prices drop by $115 a month from October. However, the December deal includes a $2,000 competitive bonus for owners and lessees of a 2011 model year or newer non-GM vehicle.
The 2026 Chevy Blazer EV FWD LT is now available to lease for as low as $319 a month for 24 months. With $6,039 due at signing, the effective rate is $571 per month, about $60 less than in November. The deal includes a $750 competitive bonus and $1,000 customer cash allowance.
Chevy and Cadillac are offering discounts across their entire EV lineup. All 2025 Chevy electric vehicles, including the Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Silverado EV, are available with 0% APR financing for 60 months.
Intestingly, the 2026 Chevy Equinox EV is also available with 0% APR financing, while the 2026 Blazer EV is listed with 1.9% APR for 36 months.
Cadillac is offering a $2,000 conquest or loyalty bonus for the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq and select 2025/2026 Optiq and Lyriq models, plus 2.9% APR for 60 months.
The 2026 Cadillac Optiq is available to lease for as low as $319 per month for 24 months, while the 2026 Vistiq is available to lease for $619 per month for 24 months.
Want to try one out? We’ve got you covered. Check out the links below to see what Cadillac and Chevy EVs are nearby.
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Electric vehicle prices edged lower and incentives jumped in November, but the month still saw a sales slowdown as the US EV market continues to hunt for a new normal.
Initial estimates from Kelley Blue Book show that EV sales came in at just over 70,000 units in November, more than 40% lower than a year ago and about 5% below October’s level.
The average transaction price (ATP) for a new EV in November was $58,638. That’s up 3.7% year-over-year but down 0.8% from October. Incentives told a different story: Discounts averaged 13.3% of ATP, which is lower than in November 2024 but jumped 20.1% compared to October.
Tesla continued to feel the pressure. The automaker’s ATP was $54,310 in November – down 1.7% from the same period a year ago but up 1.5% month-over-month. Sales declined for the second straight month and were down 22.7% year-over-year, mainly because of a drop in Model 3 demand.
Model 3 sales slid 42.1% compared to November 2024 and fell 11.9% from October. Meanwhile, the Model Y, still the best‑selling EV in the US, saw prices increase 0.9% year-over-year and month-over-month. Model Y sales were slightly lower than last November, down 0.5%, but rose 2.5% compared to October.
The Tesla Cybertruck showed signs of cooling. Once the best‑selling vehicle priced above $100,000, Cybertruck sales fell to 1,194 units in November, the lowest monthly total of 2025 so far. Its average price was $94,254, higher both year-over-year and compared to October.
Taken together, the numbers paint a picture of an EV market in transition: prices are easing, incentives are rising, but buyers are still holding back as the industry tries to settle into its next phase.
Cox Automotive executive analyst Erin Keating said, “It’s important to remember that the KBB ATP is a measure of what is bought, not what is available. Nearly half of new-vehicle buyers are over the age of 55 and in their peak earning years. These buyers are more likely shopping for a high-end SUV, not something cheap and cheerful. In November, the over-$75,000 price point saw more volume than under-$30,000.”
Read more: October EV sales slid, but deals and rebates are still in play
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