California Seeks to Invest $1B into EV Infrastructure

by
Daniel Pidgeon, ERS, for Zondits

Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric are seeking a combined $1B over the next five years (in addition to $200M already going towards electric vehicle charging infrastructure) to help the state meet its electric vehicle targets and carbon reduction goals. This figure would cover fast-charging stations, electric bus and track charging systems, new rates and incentives, and more. The infrastructure and incentive investment will help California reach its goal of 1 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2020 and 1.5 million ZEVs by 2025. These goals have been set in conjunction with California’s greenhouse-gas reduction goal – to cut carbon emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 – with a push towards electric fleet vehicles (buses, delivery trucks, airport tractors) creating much less pollution from diesel.

California Utilities Seek $1B to Build Out Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Greentech Media, January 24, 2017
In new filings with the California Public Utilities Commission, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric have laid out plans for a combination of fast-charging stations, electric-bus and -truck charging systems, and new rates and incentives.
The biggest, from Southern California Edison, envisions raising $570 million over five years, which will increase ratepayers’ bills by an average of 0.5 percent. The rollout would include 50 fast-charging ports, capable of charging EVs in under 30 minutes, at five clusters in the utility’s territory; charging stations for electric buses and trucks, as well as airport and cargo-handling vehicles; rebates to encourage new residential charging stations; and rate incentives to encourage EV owners to charge during off-peak hours.
That’s a much bigger rollout than SCE’s $22 million Vehicle Grid Integration program approved last year. That program will deploy 1,500 Level 2 chargers at workplaces and multifamily housing sites, and includes an emphasis on deploying third-party EV charging equipment and network providers.
SDG&E, which previously won approval to spend $45 million to deploy 3,500 chargers, is also proposing a much larger rollout funded by $244 million over five years. The plan includes charging stations for airport and seaport vehicles, delivery trucks, taxis, park-and-ride sites and up to 90,000 residences, as well as special rates to incentivize EV owners to charge at times of low energy prices and plentiful solar and wind power.
And PG&E, which late last year won approval for a $130 million rollout at apartments and workplaces, the country’s biggest utility-led EV charging program to date, is now seeking $253 million more for an expanded list of EV projects. Those include $211 million for “make-ready” electric infrastructure for medium- to heavy-duty and off-road fleets, as well as $22 million for EV fast-charging stations.

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