Tag Archives: EV infrastructure

The EV Transition in Sacramento – Obstacles and Opportunities 5/31

Image source: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Public-Works/Electric-Vehicle-Initiatives/EV-Charging-Locations

ECOS MTG / BOARD, May 31, 2023, 6:00 pm

LINK to join: ECOS ZOOM 6656164155 or call: 1 669 900 6833, Mtg ID: 665 616 4155

Featuring: The EV Transition in Sacramento – Obstacles and Opportunities

How do EVs fit into overall climate action to reduce carbon emissions? Is there a build-out plan for EV charging infrastructure? Who sets the price of electricity at the charger? How will people with lower incomes transition to EVs?

Presented by Sacramento Electric Vehicle Association

  • Thomas Hall, executive director of CleanStart, a regional non-profit, accelerating the energy transition. He is also an analyst at Clean Edge, curating clean tech indexes.
  • Cynthia Shallit, urban planner trained at UC Berkeley; recently retired from SHRA redevelopment and affordable housing projects group. She is involved in state and local politics related to global warming and gun control, and is working with a number of non-profit organizations in Sacramento on local climate action plans and state climate legislation.
  • Dwight MacCurdy, recently retired from SMUD Electric Transportation R&D group. He works with SacEV Association, Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition and EV Charging for All Coalition.

Click here for the agenda in PDF.

Building codes changing for new apartments (EV infrastructure)

Conveniently charging cheaply at home is a major benefit of owning an EV, but home charging isn’t possible for many who live in multi-family housing. Last month, California’s CalGreen Building Code Commission voted unanimously to increase EV charging infrastructure in new apartments, condos, hotels, motels and non-residential parking garages (workplaces, commercial sites, etc.).

The new building codes include more ambitious “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” requirements that cities can easily adopt if they wish to. Previously to accelerate EV adoption, particularly in underserved communities, Sacramento has supported the more aggressive Tier 2 requirements. Sacramento should continue this direction with the new CalGreen Tier 2 requirements in new construction. These are:

  • Hotels, Motels, Apartments, Condos with less than 20 units: 40% of parking spaces have EV infrastructure
  • Hotels, Motels, Apartments, Condos with 20 or more units: 55% of parking spaces have EV infrastructure
  • Non-Residential: 45% of parking spaces have EV infrastructure

These start January 1, 2023 for all new California construction. See a summary of the new building codes here.