Tag Archives: electric vehicle charging

DOT, DOE Join Forces to Develop Nationwide EV Charging Network

3d rendering group of EV charging stations or electric vehicle recharging stationsThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Energy (DOE) last week announced plans to “create a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to support the deployment of $7.5 billion from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out a national electric vehicle charging network that can build public confidence, with a focus on filling gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations.”

According to a release issued by both agencies:

The Joint Office will help to accelerate effective deployment of a convenient, reliable, affordable, and equitable national network of charging stations. The Office will provide technical assistant to States and localities so that they can strategically build electric vehicle charging stations and other infrastructure. This assistance will include helping states develop comprehensive plans for charging station networks to guide the implementation of the $7.5 billion program.

Both agencies are tasked with implementing investments in zero-emission vehicle passenger, transit and heavy-duty vehicles that create cleaner and more affordable transportation options for all Americans. These investments support President Biden’s executive order in August setting a national goal of half of all new vehicles sold in the United States being electric by 2030.

Now Is the Time to Rethink Sustainability

person charging an electric vehicleBy Jonah Eidus

It shouldn’t take a global pandemic to demonstrate the benefits of a more sustainable future. Yet Los Angeles, which is notorious for its poor air quality, recently experienced some of the cleanest air in the world and its longest stretch of good air quality in more than 25 years. Massive declines in air pollution have also been noted in New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Atlanta. But sustaining these improvements will be impossible unless clean energy becomes a priority.

The current crisis has underscored the urgency of accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future; a fully electric transportation sector is a key component of that future. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that tailpipe emissions are responsible for more than 50 percent of our nation’s smog-forming pollution and roughly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing gas-powered cars with electric vehicles is one of the primary steps we can take to make the current air quality improvements last when the economy shifts into recovery.

Supporting that transition with legislation–including funding support in economic recovery stimulus packages focused on infrastructure projects–is the key to cleaner air and healthier humans. A recent study published by Harvard University found that people living in areas with high levels of pollution were more susceptible to the coronavirus than those from areas with cleaner air. These real-life consequences are preventable if we can accelerate the shift to zero-emissions vehicles.

EV drivers will rely on a combination of charging at home, work, and on the go. For on the go, it’s estimated that the U.S. will require as many as 45,000 public DC fast chargers (DCFCs) by 2025—a nine-fold increase from the approximately 5,500 public DCFCs currently in operation. Fast charging enables customers to integrate charging into their everyday lives and for people living in multifamily residences, reliable access to public fast charging is a near prerequisite to owning an EV.

Now is the time to double down on our commitment to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and the deployment of EV public fast charging infrastructure in the United States. We urge IPMI members to join the more than 200,000 EV drivers, site hosts, EV manufacturers, policymakers, and stakeholders who are committed to going electric. Together, we can create a cleaner and greener future for all.

Jonah Eidus is vice president of strategic partnerships with EVgo.

 

Charging Ahead

electric car chargingBy Robert Ferrin

The City of Columbus, Ohio, was the recipient of a $10 million Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Grant that’s purpose was to lay a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption and inspire action to protect and sustain the environment through decarbonization and electrification. One of Columbus’ five priorities through this electrification program is to increase the number of charging stations in the region by nearly 1,000 ports. To meet this goal, the team has been focused on creating programs and incentivizing the installation of chargers at both the workplace and at home, where the majority of electric vehicle (EV) charging happens; in fact, as much as 85 percent of EV charging happens at home.

The city created a rebate program to expand the charging network for those living in apartments and condominiums. The Smart Columbus team also created a playbook for those implementing chargers in multi-dwelling units, including the cost of deployment, the rebate program, and the unique challenges faced by installing chargers at these types of locations. Our hope is these resources will not only be applicable to the Columbus region but also to cities and town nationally.

For more information on this case study and or other Smart Columbus related projects please click here.

Robert Ferrin, is the assistant director for parking services with the City of Columbus, Ohio. This post comes from the work of the Electrification Working Group of IPMI’s Research & Innovation Task Force.

Los Angeles Plans to Cut CO2 Emissions, Boost EV Charging for Olympics

Los Angeles, Calif., launched a massive plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost electric-vehicle charging before it hosts the Olympic Games in 2028. According to Forbes:

Under Mayor Eric Garcetti, the city, surrounding communities, companies and other entities are part of a Transportation Electrification Partnership with specific goals for the next nine years, laid out as the Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap. Targets include 30 percent of L.A.-area personal passenger vehicles on the road (and 80 percent of new vehicles sold) being electric and ensuring that 40 percent of commercial truck trips, particularly those from the sprawling ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, are exhaust-free. Electric fueling infrastructure is key to hitting those goals, so the plan includes installing 84,000 public chargers and up to 95,000 for fleets and goods movement.

Read the whole story here.