To Drive the EV Revolution, Policymakers Must Analyze and Engage
Electric vehicles (EVs) are breaking through in a big way.
Road and Track predicts over two dozen new light-duty EV models will be introduced by the end of 2022.
Ford has received over 200,000 reservations for its electric F-150 pickup and announced plans to double production.
FedEx, Amazon, UPS and DHL have announced major purchases of medium-duty electric delivery vehicles, while SEA Electric has received an order from GATR EV for 1,000 heavy-duty electric trucks.
This is all good news. Transportation is the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and pollution from gasoline-powered vehicles harms our health and the environment.
But where are these EVs going to charge? And how can we meet the demand for EV charging in a way that also creates healthier and more prosperous communities? Doing so is one of the core principles of the EV Charging Initiative
Work by the Center for Sustainable Energy shows two key approaches, used together, can set the right course:
Use data to pinpoint the best places to invest in EV charging stations in light of expected demand, existing circumstances, and community-defined priorities. The goal should be to create a seamless experience for drivers that reduces perceptions of “range anxiety” and drives future EV adoption.
Engage with, and empower, community-based leadership at the outset and throughout the planning process so that EV charging station siting drives EV adoption and promotes the health and economy of low-income communities and communities of color.
Start With Data
Academic research shows that public and private stakeholders need to get ahead of the EV adoption curve because without sufficient charging, the EV revolution might stall. At the same time, charging stations must be carefully planned to maximize utility and equity.
The first step is to understand what’s heading our way. Data and modeling can forecast how many EVs are coming, and when, to a state or region. EV demand has been sparked by national, state and utility incentives, so accounting for the impact of those changing variables is critical. Factoring in consumer behavior, which is not driven by price alone, is also important.
Next, policymakers need to assess what's currently here. That includes understanding where EV drivers currently live, what charging is available now, traffic volumes and patterns, and where the electrical grid has capacity to support new infrastructure.
Policymakers should also emphasize putting chargers in and near disadvantaged communities and in locations that serve people with low incomes, as well as multifamily housing, to complement chargers in commercial areas, tourist destinations or other hot spots. Modeling and interactive geospatial mapping software such as in CSE’s Caret® climate tech platform can help pinpoint optimal charging locations based on forecasted EV demand and community prioritie
A national effort to share anonymized public charging data would provide even more benefits, including insights on how EVs are being driven, what locations work best for drivers and how we should expand the electrical grid for the future.
Engage With Communities to Prioritize Equity
As the EV Charging Initiative’s principles state, building the charging ecosystem must create inclusive economic growth. So, as we build the charging network of the future, we need to consider local resources and challenges. This starts with shared, accessible and inclusive decision-making processes so that communities are part of the planning process from the get-go.
Inclusivity involves developing deep and lasting partnerships with trusted community-based organizations so that community perspectives and priorities inform policy. And it involves ensuring funding decisions take equity into account. For example, EV charging projects that are part of the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project are designed to allocate at least half of their funding to support EV charging in low-income and/or disadvantaged communities.
Unique challenges in lower-income communities – such as a higher number of residents living in multifamily apartment buildings – require creative solutions. One idea being tested by cities around the world is to install EV chargers on light poles. In the United States, Kansas City, Missouri; Portland, Oregon; New York City and the City of Los Angeles have used this approach. Such innovation is needed to expand EV charging in rural, suburban and urban settings.
Share the Knowledge to Guide Policy
This is an exciting moment in transportation. We have the technology to save drivers money, reduce toxic air pollution and create broad, equitable economic benefits. EVs, supported by publicly available charging, can move us toward a cleaner, greener and more equitable future — but only if we use data, empower communities and work together.
