EV Roadmap: Update on Implementation Efforts

05/11/22

In October 2019, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Electric Vehicle Roadmap (EV Roadmap), which includes strategies to increase electric vehicle (EV) ownership and use and install charging infrastructure and identifies grant opportunities.

The EV Roadmap contains six goals and 11 recommendations that leverage the County’s land use authority, permitting processes, and outreach platforms in order to increase EV ownership and charging installations in the unincorporated area and at County facilities. These goals help guide the County to increase the amount of public and private EV infrastructure installed and EV adoption among county residents.

Each year, County staff report to the Board of Supervisors on implementation efforts and progress towards EV Roadmap goals. The report for 2021 has been especially important as progress will help inform how we incorporate EVs into the County’s Climate Action Plan Update and support the Integrated Regional Decarbonization Framework.

EV Roadmap Goals 1, 2, and 3 focus on increasing the number of EVs in the County fleet, the number of public charging stations at County facilities and throughout the unincorporated area, and the number of County employees who own and drive EVs. These efforts aid in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from both County operations and vehicle use regionwide.

Highlights from implementation over the past year for these three goals include:

  • Added 11 new EVs to the County fleet and placed orders for 75 additional EVs for delivery next year.
  • Began the installation of 119 new EV charging stations for fleet vehicles at the County Operations Center.
  • Installed six new public EV charging stations at County facilities with an additional 60 stations planned or under construction.
  • Kicked off the EV Charger Site Assessment project which will identify opportunity sites for charging stations and create an implementation plan to significantly increase access to public EV charging infrastructure in the unincorporated area.
  • Avoided over 46 million vehicle miles driven by County employees by increasing employee telecommuting and alternative work schedules.
EV chargers

EV Roadmap Goals 4, 5, and 6 focus on increasing the availability of charging infrastructure in the unincorporated area by leveraging County land use authority, permitting processes, and the County’s ability to coordinate with regional partners. These goals contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions from the transportation sector regionwide.

In addition to the EV Charger Site Assessment project, noted above, highlights from implementation over the past year for these three goals included:

  • Created a streamlined EV charging station permitting process that was recognized by the State of California as one of the first jurisdictions to be consistent with Assembly Bill 1236.
  • Developed a Renewable Energy Fee Waiver Pilot Program waived permitting fees for residential EV charging stations and electric panel upgrades to incentivize EV charger installations in residential development from January 2021 until November 2021.
  • Updated the County’s building code to ensure new single-family homes could adequately accommodate future installation of EV charging stations and rooftop solar.
  • Launched the regional EV Consumer Guide website offering general and technical online education and support on EV-related topics to consumers in the region.
  • Participated in the Accelerate to Zero Emissions regional collaboration as a Core Team member to develop a vision and implement a region EV strategy and published a Regional EV Gap Analysis.
EV charging

Progress through 2021 supports ongoing County efforts to increase EV ownership and infrastructure deployment, and staff will continue to implement programs and projects to build off of this success. Ultimately, these efforts will increase the availability of and access to EVs and ensure all county residents can experience the benefits of cleaner vehicles, cleaner air, and reduced GHG emissions. Through the next year, the County will continue installation EV chargers at County facilities and in public locations, conduct outreach and prepare the final EV Charger Site Assessment document and implementation plan, and develop programs and plans to increase EV ownership and reduce employee commutes.

For more information on EV Roadmap goals and additional details on implementation efforts, head over to our EV Roadmap webpage.