The mass deployment of plug-in electric vehicles has the potential to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing energy independence through the use of locally produced energy. However, the success of long-term transportation electrification will depend on the region’s ability to be ready for the influx of these vehicles in a variety of ways, such as helping local governments prepare to meet the new and unique demands that will be placed on their agencies and the near-term availability of a reliable charging infrastructure network.
The Plan highlights strategies and guidance from research, analysis, and public input to help Bay Area local and regional government agencies, utilities, and other stakeholders to engage in efforts that can lead to accelerated local adoption of plug-in electric vehicles over the next 10 years. The results of the planning processes highlighted the following potential gaps and barriers to plug-in electric vehicle readiness in the Bay Area: (1) the relatively higher cost of the vehicle and associated infrastructure; (2) 50 percent of cities and counties in the region indicated that they may need additional resources such as training and additional time to attain plug-in electric vehicle readiness in the areas of zoning ordinances, building codes and permitting practices; and 3) to date, the majority of charging infrastructure has been installed in single-family homes. Additional effort and resources will be required to meet the existing and future demand for charging at multi-family dwelling units, workplaces, and away-from-home destinations (e.g. entertainment and recreational centers). To address these findings, the Plan proposes a series of short- (1 to 2 years), medium- (3 to 5 years), and long-term (6 to 10 years) plug-in electric vehicle readiness actions for consideration by Bay Area stakeholders.
