Giving Compass' Take:

• Robert Walton examines how cities and utility coordination is required to meet the growing demand for electric charging stations.

• How can communities support electric transportation policies?

• Learn about obstacles utilities face in electrifying cities.

As the adoption of plug-in vehicles and other electrified transportation accelerates, the revolution is being hosted and facilitated by cities and towns of varying sizes. Utilities will need to generate and deliver more electricity — often to areas already experiencing high demand. And EV adoption is only expected to grow.

In 2018, electric vehicles saw strong growth and wound up with a 2.1% market share of new passenger vehicles, nationwide. But the numbers show dramatically higher uptake in cities, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).

Research by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) shows almost 60% of city governments have green vehicle purchasing policies, and another 26% are considering them. Some 57% of cities have a policy or program for public electric vehicle charging stations, according to C2ES' annual survey, and an additional 22% percent are considering.

Increasingly, that is being done in concert with local utilities.

Municipal utilities are able to work in close concert with city policymakers, even alongside those overseeing business codes. But investor-owned utilities often must go through lengthy regulatory proceedings.

San Diego Gas & Electric has been working with the Port of San Diego to install chargers for electric medium-duty/heavy-duty vehicles and forklifts; Dominion Energy is working with school districts to utilize electric school buses; Austin Energy partnered with a school district to install not just chargers but included an EV education component for students.

Best Practices for Utility-City Collaboration on EV Charging

  • Look to collaborative purchasing groups to stretch a buck
  • Work with utility on transportation studies to determine electrification needs
  • Locate the cheapest power for a project: Where can the grid accommodate EV charging?
  • Grant money for charging infrastructure: IOUs and munis alike can work with cities to find funds

Read the full article about utilities and cities coordinating to meet electric demand by Robert Walton at Smart Cities Dive.