The Local electric vehicle marketplace is changing fast. The availability of high-quality EV models has increased, new technology features are emerging, and major players in the automotive sector are shifting their focus to electrification. Electrification is driving significant changes in business and government fleets, too. For example, municipal fleets are switching to zero-emission vehicles in order to meet climate change goals and save money on fuel costs. But the move to EVs is not happening overnight, and it’s essential for communities to take steps to prepare for a successful transition.
To get started, the first step is to evaluate your community’s EV readiness. The local factors that influence EV adoption and charging station needs include population size, commute patterns, housing characteristics, and utility rates.
Many utilities offer EV charging programs including purchasing incentives, technical assistance, and time of use rates that alleviate demand charges for EV charging. Visit the Laws and Incentives page to search for utility EV programs in your area.
Other local factors to consider are any state or regional planning initiatives that may impact EVs and charging stations. For instance, some states have EV charging plans or roadmaps that set statewide EV adoption and infrastructure deployment goals. Additionally, some cities have EV charging requirements in building codes or parking ordinances and classify EV chargers as an allowable use in zoning regulations.
Local EV charging station needs can also be determined using EVI-Pro and the EVI RoadTrip Lite: Daily Charging Need tool. These tools provide an estimate of the number of public and private EV charging stations needed to support local EV adoption and ride-hailing travel.
Communities can further evaluate EV readiness by identifying the types of EVs that will be most popular in their community. Identifying the most popular EV models on the market is crucial for ensuring that there are adequate charging stations to accommodate them. The EVI Vehicle Database provides an overview of the makes and models of EVs on the market.
While the EV market continues to grow, there is still a shortage of public and private charging stations, which can be a deterrent for EV owners. To help address this issue, EVI is working with partners to expand the network of public and private EV chargers nationwide.
In the meantime, EV owners can help speed up the pace of EV adoption by taking action to encourage their local governments and businesses to go electric. The EV community can make this happen by sharing information about the benefits of going electric, encouraging others to do so, and by advocating for policies that support EV adoption. For more information on ways you can get involved in accelerating EV adoption, listen to our podcast Electrify This! with ZETA’s Regulatory Director Thomas Boylan.