Last year’s bipartisan infrastructure law provided nearly $19 billion in grants and funds for EV charging, low- or no-emission transit buses, ferries and clean school buses. “Municipalities stand to benefit significantly from transportation electrification, but they must be prepared to leverage this funding,” said Chris Bast, director of EV infrastructure investments at the Electrification Coalition, in a press release.
The report lays out a road map for city and county governments to follow, starting with an inventory of current policies that impact charging deployments, such as zoning, permitting, building codes, parking policies and incentives. The report also recommends developing an EV-focused policy agenda that takes advantage of federal initiatives.
Policy actions can include executive orders, proclamations or resolutions mandating government action and establishing an EV vision for their community. Officials can also update existing ordinances and regulations to ensure that new buildings are equipped for EV charging or require the electrification of government and other widely used fleets such as ride-hailing services.