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I applaud the San Jose Mercury News for its March 29, 2017
editorial, "California must put brakes on VW's EV plan".
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/29/editorial-california-must-put-brakes-on-vws-ev-plan/
 
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is now reviewing a
proposal by Volkswagen (VW) to use the first round of the hefty
$800 million settlement, resulting from VW's gaming of diesel
emission tests, to build Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations
around the state. This part of the settlement requires VW to spend
35 percent on charging stations in low-income areas, not just cater
to upmarket consumers. 

However, it appears that VW's proposal is guilty of redlining
disadvantaged communities, by placing EV stations near freeway
offramps, rather than embedding them in the community - at
apartment buildings, grocery stores, movie theaters, shopping
centers, public spaces, and parking structures - where people can
use them while going about their day.

VW's deliberate, multi-year campaign to defeat auto emission
standards violated the public trust, to the detriment of our air
quality and public health. It is not up to corporate managers to
decide how to apply funds intended to remedy VW's misconduct. 

Please make sure spending under VW's ZEV Investment Plan, as
overseen by the ARB, incorporates substantial investments in
underserved communities, and is not driven by VW's sales and profit
goals - yet again. Make sure the spirit - not just the letter - of
the settlement is enforced.