Local governments are making headway as they develop their electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. “Progress varies depending on what stage governments are at in the electrification strategy and funding availability,” says Brandon Branham, assistant city manager and chief technology officer for Peachtree Corners, Ga., which is part of the Atlanta metro. Its 2022 population is estimated at 45,099.

Branham’s community has been working on its electrification strategy for the past seven years. It installed its first public charging infrastructure in 2014, only two years after incorporation as a municipality. “Since then, the city has gone onto testing roadway applied, solar-powered EV charging and it has expanded the public charging network throughout the city…

Last month, Lakewood, Ohio (2022 population, 48,676; it’s part of the Cleveland metro) began collecting an EV charging fee of 24 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at its seven stations located throughout the community. EV drivers had been getting a free charge when powering up at one of the city’s many charging stations.