Description
Municipalities should ensure public access to electric vehicle (EV) chargers in order to support residents who have purchased EVs and to encourage other residents to make the transition. Proposed legislation would require that by 2035, all new vehicles sold in New York be zero-emissions. Residents throughout the Capital Region will count on access to public EV charging.
There are two general categories of public EV charging.
The first category is overnight charging for residents who do not have access to a private charger. Charging equipment should be provided along streets with frequent overnight parking, apartment parking lots, and other overnight lots.
The second category is short-term charging. This will reduce EV “range anxiety.” Short-term charging should be available near stores and businesses and other locations that residents visit throughout the day. These sites need to offer fast DC charging, which requires adequate electrical capacity. Some stores in the Capital Region, including most Hannaford Supermarkets, offer fast DC charging.
Municipalities can ensure access to public EV charging by installing chargers at municipally-owned locations and by requiring them at appropriate privately-owned locations through zoning regulations.
Implementation Phases
This action could be fully implemented today.
Challenges
Funding is required for charger installation. In the case of fast DC charging, adequate electrical infrastructure is needed.
In the case of on-street, National Grid will need to be engaged to provide electrical service.
Example Municipalities
Several municipalities have already implemented this action…
- Los Angeles, CA has installed EV charging stations on 431 streets ensuring access to the public throughout the city
- Palo Alto, CA passed an ordinance requiring all new multi-family complexes, hotels and commercial buildings to install EV charging stations
- Austin, TX provides unlimited charging for under $5 a month at over 170 public charging stations to any resident who wishes to be a part of this program
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions
Data
Number of multifamily units in Bethlehem, NY: 3701 [Town of Bethlehem Demographic and Growth Analysis 1991-2018]
Average number of miles per car per in NY : 11,871 miles [What is Average Mileage Per Year?, New York state ]
GHG emission reduction when switching from gas car to EV : 50% [Electric Vehicles, Emissions and Fuel Economy]
Assumptions
All multiple family units have 2 vehicles per household.
Methodology
We calculated the:
- Average number of vehicles of multifamily houses.
- Total CO2e from multifamily house cars.
- Reduced emission when all existing multifamily household switch to electric vehicle.
Result
17750 metric tons of CO2e is reduced per year by switching from gas to electric cars by all the existing multifamily houses with access to public electric vehicle charging.
This results in LARGE GHG emissions reductions.
Climate Smart Communities (CSC) & Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Link
This action is also related to CEC and CSC actions for which municipalities can earn points toward certification. Municipalities can:
CEC Actions:
- Earn 200 CEC points under CEC’s Clean Fleets high impact action.
CSC Actions:
- Earn 4-18 CSC points for installing EV charging stations under CSC’s bronze and silver priority PE6 Action: Alternative-fuel Infrastructure.
Co-benefits
There are multiple co-benefits to completing this action, including:
- Accelerated transition to electric vehicles.
- Supports local shopping.
- Improves equity and access for retail workers.
Resources
NYS provides various grants to municipalities for EV charging stations.
- NYS DEC Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant. Provides grants to install electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for public use.
- Charge Ready NY Provides $4,000 per port for Level 2 EV charging equipment at public sites.
- Charge Ready NY Equipment and Network Qualification Process Site owners receive incentives for installation of EV charging equipment.
- DCFC Program. For purchasing and installing Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)
The City of Boston provides a How to Guide: Electric Vehicle Charger Installation.
Los Angeles, CA has installed EV charging stations on 431 streets.
The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting Installs FLO EV Chargers.
https://electrek.co/2020/10/05/new-york-bill-ban-new-ice-cars-2035/
nyserda.ny.gov/All%20Programs/Programs/ChargeNY/Charge%20Electric/Char
ging%20Station%20Programs/Charge%20Ready%20NY#:~:text=Charge%20Rea
dy%20NY%20offers%20public,on%20station%20and%20installation%20costs.
https://portal.nyserda.ny.gov/CORE_Solicitation_Detail_Page?SolicitationId=a0rt000000FoSMOAA3
https://portal.nyserda.ny.gov/CORE_Solicitation_Detail_Page?SolicitationId=a0rt00000138SPVAA2
https://www.transportationandclimate.org/sites/default/files/EV_Siting_and_De
https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2019/12/How%20To%20Install
https://bsl.lacity.org/smartcity-ev-charging.html
https://www.sustainablejersey.com/fileadmin/media/Actions_and_Certification
/Actions/Make_Your_Town_EV_Friendly/Guidance_for_Creating_EV_Friendly_Or
dinance_V.1_April_2017__1_.pdf.
https://tinyurl.com/y5n55wnr
nyserda.ny.gov/All%20Programs/Programs/ChargeNY/Charge%20Electric/Char
ging%20Station%20Programs/Charge%20Ready%20NY#:~:text=Charge%20Rea
dy%20NY%20offers%20public,on%20station%20and%20installation%20costs.