Government policies to encourage electric vehicle recharging infrastructure

Communities that encourage electric vehicles take an important step toward a clean energy future. By developing an installed base of electric transportation, just like adopting a minimum standard for renewable energy in the electric grid, Colorado builds momentum towards a future where clean, domestically produced renewable energy reliably meets society's needs and drives employment here at home.

Department of Energy Electric Vehicle Handbook for Fleet Managers

Recommended actions

• Purchase electric vehicles
  • Test at least one EV for use in municipal fleet operations
  • Include suitable EVs and plug-in hybrids in fleet purchase schedules
• Prepare for charging EVs
  • Install electrical conduit and 120V or 240V plugs near parking areas
  • Change building codes and building permit rules to require 120V or 240V plugs near parking areas for new buildings and renovations
• Think forward to a Smart Grid that taps electric vehicles

Purchase electric vehicles

Create an agency or jurisdiction fleet plan that commits to purchase electric vehicles, neighborhood electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles when they can meet the need.

Example policy: Our Town commits to choose fleet vehicles based on lowest 10-year life cycle cost and to purchase advanced technology vehicles, provided the following minimum performance criteria are met.

• In-town uses
  • NEV car: 4 passenger, 25-mile range at 25 mph
  • NEV truck: 2 passengers, 1,000 pounds cargo, 25-mile range at 25 mph
• All uses
  • EV car: 4 passengers, 100 mile range, 50,000 mile battery warranty
  • EV truck: 1,000 pounds cargo, 100 mile range, 50,000 mile battery warranty
  • PHEV/EREV car: 4 passengers, 30 mile electric range, 350 miles on a tank of gas
  • PHEV/EREV truck/van: 30 mile electric range, 350 miles on a tank of gas
  • Ability to operate on a grade equal to the steepest road in town

Once criteria are met, the advanced technology vehicle shall be deemed acceptable for town operations and Our Town shall purchase at least one such vehicle at the next opportunity.

If the vehicle meets actual demand during an evaluation period, the town shall purchase only advanced technology vehicles for this use in the future. Evaluation criteria include acceptable performance and operational costs.

Exceptions are allowed only in cases of unusual vehicle duty requirements or in cases where advanced technology vehicles have a 10 year lifecycle operational cost that is 15 percent higher than a conventional vehicle. 

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Prepare for charging EVs

Lay the pipe today for easy proliferation of 120V or more powerful 240V plugs when the time is right.

• In local government building projects and for new construction and redevelopment permit applications, require a plan for electric vehicle charging.

For new construction or redevelopment permits, require the installation of:

• Added circuit capacity for vehicle charging. Recommended: At least one dedicated 120V 20 amp circuit and at least one dedicated 240V 40 amp circuit to at least 10 percent of parking spaces.
• Plastic electrical conduit between electrical source and parking areas, and feeding out to a percentage of parking spaces. Conduit should be capped, marked, and protected from damage in preparation for future wire-pulling and installation of plugs and/or charging devices.

Example: Vancouver, British Columbia, requires electric vehicle plugs in every new building

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Think forward to a Smart Grid that taps electric vehicles

This vision of batteries, vehicles, charging infrastructure and renewables is aimed at an energy supply and energy consumption system that is interconnected, intelligent and able to adapt to our needs.

Imagine taking a few gallons out of your car's tank and selling it to a neighbor on a day you're not driving your car. In the interconnected electricity and transportation system of the future, you'll do exactly that.

Example: Xcel Energy is testing Smart Grid technology in Boulder.

In a Smart Grid:

• Your electric car starts charging automatically when electrical demand is low and the price is cheap
• Your home’s appliances reduce their power demand to save money at peak times
• Your electric car sells energy while it’s parked, earning you money
• Your office’s critical systems run during a power failure… powered by your electric car
• Your electric company stores energy in your car on windy days for use when it’s calm
• Renewable energy is cheaper to install on the grid, thanks to storage available in car batteries

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