E-vehicle backers, Calif. utility push for more charging stations

SAN FRANCISCO – A coalition of various groups representing electric vehicle service providers, environmentalists, electric vehicle drivers, automakers, community choice aggregators, and labor unions joined a California public utility in pushing for the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations in underserved communities.

The coalition linked up with Pacific Gas and Electric March 21 to submit a proposed settlement to the California Public Utilities Commission for a three-year pilot program to speed up deployment of electric vehicle charging stations.

Advocates expect the program to boost EV adoption in low-income communities and communities of color by making charging facilities accessible in these communities.

“With this settlement, PG&E becomes a national leader in increasing access to EV charging in low-income communities and communities of color, the communities that most need the clean air and cost savings from electric cars,” said Joel Espino, Environmental Equity Legal Counsel at the Greenlining Institute.

“We commend PG&E’s commitment to making clean electric cars a reality for Californians of all income levels. This will add to progress already made by policies like the Charge Ahead California Initiative in making clean transportation available to all, regardless of income or ZIP code.”

Key elements of the settlement, which still must be approved by the CPUC, include:

• The pilot program will target a deployment of 7,500 level 2 charging ports and 100 DC fast-charging ports.
• Charging stations will be deployed at multi-unit dwellings, workplaces, and destination locations such as shopping centers.
• The total budget is not to exceed $160M and will ensure that the cost to a typical residential customer is less than the $2.75 per year cost approved in January in the San Diego Gas & Electric EV charging infrastructure pilot program.
• PG&E will set aside $5 million for equity programs aimed at complementing Charge Ahead California Initiative (SB 1275, De León) programs and further increasing access to EVs in low-income communities and communities of color.
• PG&E will deploy at least 15 percent of its charging stations in the most disadvantaged communities in PG&E’s service territory. In addition, the company agrees to a stretch goal of deploying an additional five percent of charging stations in the most disadvantaged communities in its territory or other areas with a high concentration of low-income CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy Program) customers.

The full text of the proposed settlement can be downloaded here. For additional background on the connections between electric vehicles, California climate efforts, low-income communities and the Charge Ahead California Initiative, see Joel Espino’s blog post.

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