Final Scope
There are currently more than 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) in the nation, and this is envisioned to grow to 20 million by 2030 (about 7% of the total fleet). A clear need exists for charging stations to support this growth in EVs. State departments of transportation (DOTs) have employed a variety of approaches to the deployment and operation of charging stations, often through pilot programs. With fledgling needs, pilots may have been appropriate, but as EVs become a greater share of fleets in both consumer and freight vehicles, a consistent and sustainable strategy of implementation and operations may be needed. State DOTs have experienced some levels of success but have experienced different challenges and barriers to implementation. Additionally, it is not always clear what the role of the public sector should be in deploying EV charging networks.
The objective of this synthesis is to document current strategies and practices in use by state DOTs to facilitate and coordinate the provision and operation of EV charging facilities. The synthesis will also include current plans to address the future maturity of EV charging, such as preparation for medium and heavy-duty electrification.
Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to):
-
Practices for EV charging infrastructure deployment, delineation of operating and maintenance responsibilities, public/private partnerships, procurement and contracting, and pricing strategies;
-
Practices prioritizing the deployment of EV charging (passenger travel and/or freight, and corridor based or site-specific opportunities such multi-dwelling housing or community destinations, etc.);
-
Practices on planning for EV charging, including for expanding pilot programs into full-scale build-outs (passenger and/or freight vehicles and in urban and rural contexts);
-
Practices in working with utilities (negotiating demand charges, infrastructure upgrades, etc.)
-
Practices for funding (not a list of eligible fund sources, rather any strategies on navigating the complexities of funding available to pay for EV charging stations and where success has been achieved (funding regulations, Buy America requirements, commercialization of rest area regulations including grandfathered commercial service areas, etc.);
-
Practices on evaluating the effectiveness of programs, quantification of benefits, cost recapture, and experiences in overcoming barriers to implementation;
-
Practices on providing guidance or technical assistance to local governments from DOTs (e.g., rezoning needs for home-based charging facilities, charging for public and private parking lots and garages, etc.); and
-
Policies for EV charging stations along curbs of state-owned roadways or in public rights-of-way.
Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected agencies for the development of case examples. Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.
TRB Staff
Trey Joseph Wadsworth
Phone: 202-334-2307
Meeting Dates
First Panel: October 19, 2021, Virtual meeting
Teleconference with Consultant: November 22, 2021 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern
Second Panel: July 7, 2022, Washington, D.C.
Topic Panel Members
Anita K. Bush, Nevada Department of Transportation
Dr. Gustavo Collantes, LOGIOS
Dr. Alan Jenn, University of California, Davis
Lyle McMillian, Utah Department of Transportation
Susan Steffenhagen, Milepost Consulting
Jules Williams, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Elizabeth Habic, Federal Highway Administration
