DOCSLIB.ORG

Kern County Electric Vehicle Charging Station Blueprint

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Kern County Electric Vehicle Charging Station Blueprint Kern County Electric Vehicle Charging Station Blueprint May 2019 Submitted to Kern Council of Governments Submitted by Center for Sustainable Energy Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) Ahron Hakimi Executive Director Rob Ball Deputy Director - Planning Kern COG Board of Directors Members Jose Gurrola, Jr. Arvin Bob Smith Bakersfield Nicholas Lessenevitch California City Grace Vallejo Delano John Crump Maricopa Manuel Cantu McFarland Mike Mower Ridgecrest Gilbert Alvarado Shafter Orchel Krier Taft Philip A. Smith Tehachapi Gilberto Reyna Wasco Zack Scrivner Kern County Supervisor, District 2 David Couch Kern County Supervisor, District 4 Ex-Officio Members Gail Miller Caltrans District 6 Brent Green Caltrans District 9 Cindy Parra Golden Empire Transit Scott Kiernan Joint Planning Policy Board California Energy Commission Brian Fauble Energy Commission Specialist Project Manager You are encouraged to publish or otherwise make publicly Linda Urata Regional Planner, Kern COG available the results of the work conducted under the award. No product or report produced as a result of work funded by Consulting Team this program shall be represented to be endorsed by the Ener- David Lange Senior Manager, CSE gy Commission, and all such products or reports shall include Katie Witherspoon Senior Planner, CSE the following statement: Kevin Wood Specialist, CSE LEGAL NOTICE Funding Acknowledgment This document was prepared as a result of work sponsored by the California Energy Commission. It does not necessarily This project was supported through funding from the represent the views of the Energy Commission, its employees, California Energy Commission (Energy Commission). or the State of California. The Energy Commission, the State of California, its employees, contractors, and subcontractors make no warranty, express or implied, and assume no legal lia- bility for the information in this document; nor does any party represent that the use of this information will not infringe upon privately owned rights. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................5 EV PRIMER....................................................................................................................................................................9 EXISTING CONDITIONS...............................................................................................................................................29 SITING & GAPS ANALYSIS...........................................................................................................................................47 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ..........................................................................................................................................115 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................................................133 ENDNOTES ...................................................................................................................................................................134 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................................................................136 INTRODUCTION The Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) and Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) were awarded a California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Communities Challenge grant to develop an Electric Vehicle Charging Station Blueprint (Blueprint). The Blueprint will place Kern County on a pathway to achieve its Sustainable Communities Strategy greenhouse gas emission reduction goals at an accelerated rate through identifying high-impact transportation electrification projects and assigning community-specific implementation strategies to reach the following project goals. • Project Goal No. 1: Develop and deploy a Blueprint to accelerate the transition to electrified transportation within Kern County with a holistic and futuristic view of regional transportation planning and consideration for disadvantaged communities. The Blueprint identifies two scenarios for Kern County stakeholders to meet the State of California’s 2015 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Action Plan goal of 1.5 million ZEVs on California roads by the year 2025. • Project Goal No. 2: Identify at least 12 shovel-ready sites (with one in each Kern COG member agency jurisdiction [e.g., Cities of Arvin, Bakersfield, California City, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi, Wasco and the County of Kern]) and position those sites for California Energy Commission Phase II funding or other funding. The process to achieve these project goals includes documenting transportation electrification progress to date, engaging with stakeholders, creating project concepts, developing an agreed upon methodology for ranking projects, developing a plan around the highest ranked projects, developing infrastructure deployment strategies and metrics, and producing toolkits to support regional stakeholders meeting project goals. Blueprint Structure The Blueprint is divided into the following sections: Report Section Description Describes the project goals, outlines the structure of the document Section I. Introduction and recognizes regional contributors to the Blueprint development and deployment. Provides details on EV charging equipment, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Section II. EVI Primer (EVI) processes, associated costs, business models to consider, and innovations. Section III. Existing Conditions Discusses the current state of EVI in Kern County, projections and supporting factors for growth, and barriers. Section IV. Charging Identifies High Impact Projects suitable for EVI investment and gaps that need Infrastructure Siting & Gaps to be addressed by the Blueprint. Analysis Identifies the key actions, responsibilities, metrics, and the deployment Section V. Implementation Plan schedule for Kern County to meet EVI goals. Summarizes findings and recommendations for Kern County to meet project Section VI. Conclusions goals. Regional Contributors Name Organization Jeff Petrini A-C Electric Caroline Farrell Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment Ace Pascual ChargePoint Brendan O'Donnell ChargePoint Christine Viterelli City of Arvin Alex Lee City of McFarland Bard Lower City of Ridgecrest Mark Staples City of Taft Dave Lange CSE Katie Witherspoon CSE Kevin Wood CSE Jennifer Sanchez CSU, Bakersfield Jeramiah Cravens Eastern Kern APCD Aric Ohana Envoy Jack Axelrod Envoy Paul Hernandez Envoy Collin Burnell EV Community Representative Paul Gipe EV Community Representative 6 | Kern County Electric Vehicle Blueprint Name Organization Bob Snoddy Kern COG Linda Urata Kern COG Rob Ball Kern COG Bill Elliott Kern Community College District Dave Teasdale Kern Community College District Ariana Joven Kern County Farmers Bureau Jasmene del Aguila Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability Babeeta Nagra Pacific Gas & Electric Marcos Montes Pacific Gas & Electric Forest Williams PowerFlex Systems Brian Dodds San Joaquin Valley APCD Dante Sanson San Joaquin Valley APCD Jacob Whitson San Joaquin Valley APCD Nhia Vu San Joaquin Valley APCD Gordon Nipp Sierra Club Representative Michelle Marquette Southern California Edison Traeger Cotten Southern California Edison Bill Rock Southern California Edison Electric Vehicle Charging Station Blueprint | 7 EV CHARGING PRIMER Adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) is increasing both statewide and within Kern County. As more drivers switch to electric powertrains, demand will rise for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Following is a high-level overview of the types and uses of EVCS, potential innovative charging technologies and strategies, and a summary of costs. EVCS Technologies EVCS are typically classified by three “levels” of power delivery: Level 1, Level 2 and direct current (DC) fast charging.1 The primary distinction between these levels is the input voltage – Level 1 uses 110/120 volts, Level 2 uses 208/240 volts, and DC fast chargers (DCFC) use between 208 and 480 volts, and usually require three-phase power inputs.2 Various manufacturers produce each level of EVCS, with a variety of products with varying prices, applications and functionality. Figure 1 illustrates a general overview of the three general charging speeds, showing the differing characteristics of each of the charging levels. Figure 1: Key Differences Between Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charge EVCS Characteristics LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 DCFC • Standand current via • Requires installation • Requires installation electrical outlet of charging equipment of charging equipment • 8-12 hours to fully charge, and may require utility and may require utility although larger batteries upgrades upgrades could take 1-2 days • 4-8 hours to fully charge • 80% charge in as little as 30 • Inside or outside locations • Inside or outside locations minutes • Standard outlets and • Public use, often requiring • Relatively high-cost standard J1772 coupler payment and provider compared to Level 2 chargers • In-vehicle power network interfaces conversion • Requires utility upgrades and dedicated circuits Level 1 Charging In general, Level 1 charging is cost efficient when an existing 110V/120V outlet is present. In this case, an EV
Load more

Recommended publications
  • RESIDENTIAL CHARGING STATION INSTALLATION HANDBOOK for Single-Family Homeowners and Renters
    RESIDENTIAL CHARGING STATION INSTALLATION HANDBOOK for Single-Family Homeowners and Renters Version 4.0 ©2011 Advanced Energy 1 RESIDENTIAL CHARGING STATION INSTALLATION HANDBOOK for Single-Family Homeowners and Renters Version 4.0 This handbook was made possible through the support of Duke Energy, the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, Dominion Energy and Plug-in NC. 2 Residential Charging Station Installation Handbook for Single-Family Homeowners and Renters CHARGING LEVELS DRIVING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION Advanced Energy is working to assist utilities, charging station vendors, municipalities and all stakeholders in understanding, planning for and Plug-in NC implementing electric transportation initiatives. As your trusted resource for advancing electric transportation, we can assist you in creating a strong foundation for successful change through: y Consulting and Planning y Technical Evaluation y Education and Outreach Our day-to-day means of transportation is changing, and the more communities and consumers know about Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs), the more prepared they will be to embrace them. This handbook has been developed to assist in assessing your options for vehicle charging at a multifamily home. For more than 10 years, Advanced Energy has been collaborating with stakeholders across the United States on PEV technologies and initiatives. We share our expertise with you to simplify the integration of electric transportation into your community. Advanced Energy works with North Caroilna Stakeholders to
    [Show full text]
  • Short Range Transit Plan (PDF)
    Short Range Transit Plan FY 2020/21 - 2024/25 Golden Empire Transit District Adopted September 2020 Golden Empire Transit District Board of Directors Cindy Parra Jim Baldwin Chair Vice Chair City of Bakersfield County of Kern Carlos Bello Leasa Engel Rueben Pascual Director Director Director City of Bakersfield At-Large County of Kern A five-member Board of Directors governs Golden Empire Transit District. Two members are appointed by the Bakersfield City Council, two members are appointed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors, and one member is appointed at-large by the four other Board members. GET coordinates with City of Bakersfield, the County of Kern, and the Kern Council of Governments. Karen King Chief Executive Officer Short Range Transit Plan FY 20/21 – 24/25 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................... iv CHAPTER 1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ......................................................1 CHAPTER 2 SERVICE & PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ......................... 28 CHAPTER 3 SERVICE ANALYSIS .......................................................... 39 CHAPTER 4 PREVIOUS SERVICE REVISIONS ........................................ 77 CHAPTER 5 RECOMMENDED SERVICE PLAN ...................................... 81 CHAPTER 6 FINANCIAL PLAN ............................................................ 93 CHAPTER 7 GLOSSARY ...................................................................... 98 REFERENCE MAPS .........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
    A CRC Press FREEBOOK Hybrid & Electric Vehicles TABLE OF CONTENTS 0 Introduction 1 • Introduction to Electric Vehicles from 0 Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Networks: Optimization and Control 2 • Electric Machines from Electric and 0 Hybrid Vehicles: Design Fundamentals, Second Edition 3 • Fundamentals of Conventional 0 Vehicles and Powertrains from Advanced Electric Drive Vehicles 0 4 • Hybrid Energy Storage Systems from Advanced Electric Drive Vehicles 5 • Solar Powered Charging Stations from 0 Solar Powered Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles: A Sustainable Development 6. Internal Combustion Engines from 0 Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles, Third Edition Solar Powered Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles VISIT WWW.CRCPRESS.COM TO BROWSE FULL RANGE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TITLES Introduction In response to increasing demand for low-carbon technologies, we educate in hybrid and fully electric vehicle development from CRC Press. These books show students and professionals alike how electrical and mechanical engineers must work together to complete an alternative vehicle system. It empowers them to carry on state-of-the-art research and development in automotive engineering in order to meet today?s needs of clean, efficient, and sustainable vehicles! 4 Q INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES This chapter is excerpted from Electrical and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Networl<s: Optimization and Control by Emanuele Crisostomi, Robert Shorten, Sonja StGdli & Fabian Wirth © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group. All rights reserved. 0 Learn more 1 Introduction to Electric Vehicles 1.1 Introduction Growing concerns over the limited supply of fossil-based fuels are motivating intense activity in the search for alternative road transportation propulsion systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Optimal Locations of Us Fast Charging Stations for Long
    He, Kockelman, Perrine 1 1 OPTIMAL LOCATIONS OF U.S. FAST CHARGING STATIONS FOR LONG- 2 DISTANCE TRIPS BY BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES 3 4 Yawei He 5 Graduate Research Assistant 6 Department of Management Science and Engineering 7 Beijing Institute of Technology 8 Tel: +86 18611915120; [email protected] 9 10 Kara M. Kockelman, Ph.D., P.E. 11 Corresponding Author 12 Professor, and E.P. Schoch Professor in Engineering 13 Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 14 The University of Texas at Austin 15 Tel: 512-471-0210; Fax: 512-475-8744; [email protected] 16 17 Kenneth A. Perrine 18 Research Associate 19 Center for Transportation Research 20 The University of Texas at Austin 21 [email protected] 22 23 Presented at the 97th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 24 January 2018 and published in Journal of Cleaner Production 214: 452-461 (2019) 25 26 ABSTRACT 27 Due to environmental and energy challenges, promoting battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is 28 a popular policy for many countries. However, lack of fast recharging infrastructure and 29 limitations on BEV range moderate their purchase and use. It is important to have a well- 30 designed charging station network, so this paper uses U.S. long-distance travel data to place 31 charging stations in order to maximize long-distance trip completions. Each scenario assumes a 32 certain number of charging stations (from 50 to 250, across the U.S.) and vehicle range (from 60 33 mi to 250 mi). 34 The problem is formulated as a mixed integer program, and a modified flow-refueling 35 location model (FRLM) model is solved via a branch-and-bound algorithm.
    [Show full text]
  • Fast Charging: an In-Depth Look at Market Penetration, Charging Characteristics, and Advanced Technologies
    EVS27 Barcelona, Spain, November 17-20, 2013 Fast Charging: An In-Depth Look at Market Penetration, Charging Characteristics, and Advanced Technologies Satish Rajagopalan1, Arindam Maitra1, John Halliwell1, Morgan Davis1, Mark Duvall1 1Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), USA Abstract Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) are now available in many North American and European markets, with more models expected to become available to consumers in the coming years. These vehicles will present utilities with opportunities as well as challenges as their numbers potentially grow to hundreds of thousands of vehicles connected to the electric grid for charging. In order to support PEV adoption in the market place, it is expected that consumers will demand faster charge rates especially for the all electric vehicles. Faster charge rates require higher power electrical charging systems and the infrastructure to support these fast charging systems. With a view to comprehensively understand the impact of DC fast charging on the customer as well as the electric utility, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has been conducting detailed research into the market potential, technical capabilities, and installation costs. Demand charges and installation costs are currently the most significant barriers widespread adoption of fast charging. Creating a sustainable business case for fast charging will require economics that match utilization. This paper will discuss these findings in depth and will also provide an update on the status of DC fast charging related standards. With a view to address these shortcomings, EPRI has developed a direct medium-voltage fed all solid-state fast charging system, the Utility Direct Medium Voltage Fast Charger (UDFC).
    [Show full text]
  • Bakersfield General Plan Template
    2.4 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT DRAFT EXISTING CONDITIONS, CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES REPORT 2.4 PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT The Parks and Open Space Element details how open space, recreational areas and natural resource areas will be preserved and managed. 2.4.1 EXISTING CONDITIONS The 2002 Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan addresses Parks and Open Space in two separate elements. It is proposed that these two elements be combined under one comprehensive Parks and Open Space Element as part of the General Plan Update. Therefore, the following is a brief overview of both the Parks and Open space elements of the 2002 Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan. Parks Parks are generally categorized as either “local” or “regional” in the 2002 Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan. Local parks generally range from 1 to 2.5 acres for mini-parks, 5- 10 acres for neighborhood parks, and approximately 30 acres for community parks. Regional parks, on the other hand, can range anywhere from 20 to 1,000 acres and may serve a population living within a one–hour drive (about 50 miles). Historically, park facilities in the planning area have been provided by the City of Bakersfield, Kern County, the North of the River Recreation and Park District (NORRPD), Bear Mountain Recreation and Park District, school districts, colleges, and, most recently, private developers. Regional parks have been the responsibility of Kern County. The City of Bakersfield and Kern County operate regional, community and neighborhood parks and trails, along with community centers and other recreational facilities. The park system under the jurisdiction of the City of Bakersfield includes more than 50 parks, recreation facilities and trails such as the Kern River Parkway (see Figure 2.4.1-1 Existing Parks in Metropolitan Bakersfield, below, and Table 2.4.1-1 Existing Parks in Metropolitan Bakersfield, located at the end of this chapter, for a listing of all parks in the Metropolitan Bakersfield area).
    [Show full text]
  • Television Advertising Insights
    Lockdown Highlight Tous en cuisine, M6 (France) Foreword We are delighted to present you this 27th edition of trends and to the forecasts for the years to come. TV Key Facts. All this information and more can be found on our This edition collates insights and statistics from dedi cated TV Key Facts platform www.tvkeyfacts.com. experts throughout the global Total Video industry. Use the link below to start your journey into the In this unprecedented year, we have experienced media advertising landscape. more than ever how creative, unitive, and resilient Enjoy! / TV can be. We are particularly thankful to all participants and major industry players who agreed to share their vision of media and advertising’s future especially Editors-in-chief & Communications. during these chaotic times. Carine Jean-Jean Alongside this magazine, you get exclusive access to Coraline Sainte-Beuve our database that covers 26 countries worldwide. This country-by-country analysis comprises insights for both television and digital, which details both domestic and international channels on numerous platforms. Over the course of the magazine, we hope to inform you about the pandemic’s impact on the market, where the market is heading, media’s social and environmental responsibility and all the latest innovations. Allow us to be your guide to this year’s ACCESS OUR EXCLUSIVE DATABASE ON WWW.TVKEYFACTS.COM WITH YOUR PERSONAL ACTIVATION CODE 26 countries covered. Television & Digital insights: consumption, content, adspend. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US.
    [Show full text]
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Station for Toyota Level 2 EV Charging: 40A, 240V, 9.6Kw Output
    Product Bulletin for the Toyota Electric Vehicle 40A Charging Station 40 Amp Electric Vehicle Charging Station for Toyota Level 2 EV Charging: 40A, 240V, 9.6kW output Leviton introduces its next generation electric vehicle charging station -- designed with a durable thermoplastic enclosure. The Level 2 (240V) 40A charging station was designed exclusively for the Toyota RAV4 EV and is recommended by Toyota for optimizing the onboard charger on your vehicle. Designed, tested and assembled in the United States, the new charging station will charge the RAV4 EV in approximately 5 to 6 hours. The 40A charging station includes a 25-foot charging cable, which offers flexibility in the mounting location. Features and Benefits: n Compatible with all Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Standards and Recommended Practices, including SAE J1772™, NEC 625, UL 2231, and UL 2594 n Built-in communication verifies proper connection with the vehicle before charging n Auto-Reclosure feature enables charging to restart following a minor power interruption, thereby reducing the chance of being stranded with an uncharged battery 40 Amp n Ideal for home charging or light commercial applications n Plug-In unit is capable of being converted to a “hard-wired” installation if required Prius Plug-in RAV4 EV n Plug-in unit ideal for indoor applications Charger Charge Time Charge Time n Watertight NEMA Type 4 enclosure for electronic housing n Wrap-around cord management for easy storage between uses Level 1 ~3 Hours Emergency Use Only n Ground monitor interrupter circuit for additional safety Level 2, 16A ~1.5 Hours Not Recommended n Charge connector lockout hole prevents unauthorized use Level 2, 30A ~1.5 Hours ~ 6.5 - 8 Hours n Industry exclusive 10-year warranty with Leviton-certified installation Level 2, 40A ~1.5 Hours ~ 5 - 6 Hours 1-(855)-5-PLUGIN n Leviton.com/Toyota n [email protected] Features Dimensions 5.19 Cable 3.01 0.21 Cat No.
    [Show full text]
  • The 2014 Regional Transportation Plan Promotes a More Efficient
    CHAPTER 5 STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS – VERSION 5 CHAPTER 5 STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS INTRODUCTION This chapter sets forth plans of action for the region to pursue and meet identified transportation needs and issues. Planned investments are consistent with the goals and policies of the plan, the Sustainable Community Strategy element (see chapter 4) and must be financially constrained. These projects are listed in the Constrained Program of Projects (Table 5-1) and are modeled in the Air Quality Conformity Analysis. The 2014 Regional Transportation Plan promotes Forecast modeling methods in this Regional Transportation a more efficient transportation Plan primarily use the “market-based approach” based on demographic data and economic trends (see chapter 3). The system that calls for fully forecast modeling was used to analyze the strategic funding alternative investments in the combined action elements found in this transportation modes, while chapter.. emphasizing transportation demand and transporation Alternative scenarios are not addressed in this document; they are, however, addressed and analyzed for their system management feasibility and impacts in the Environmental Impact Report approaches for new highway prepared for the 2014 Regional Transportation Plan, as capacity. required by the California Environmental Quality Act (State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15126(f) and 15126.6(a)). From this point, the alternatives have been predetermined and projects that would deliver the most benefit were selected. The 2014 Regional Transportation Plan promotes a more efficient transportation system that calls for fully funding alternative transportation modes, while emphasizing transportation demand and transporation system management approaches for new highway capacity. The Constrained Program of Projects (Table 5-1) includes projects that move the region toward a financially constrained and balanced system.
    [Show full text]
  • Tj 'WMYAITO-Fiwgraphy
    46 AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, OCTOBER 14, 1940 thought of the high command, had dug up the capital to launch the lobby 0f tuT Commodore, then the enterprise, Joe Fields, who knew practically crJ? * and veteran of the automobile show every worth-while dealer in the country, had, as vice- several big Tj manufacturers h 'WMYAITO-fiWGRAPHY the plays as well as 1 saga president and general sales manager, guaranteed being i n thai 4l|ft| TOE of the first retail outlets so necessary to launching this new product. itself. Joe suggested the 100 YEARS CN dore and Walter P. toM RUBEER All bases had been covered and the new automobile hire the lobby, adding, “w,Su was industry. So when a show all right.” set to blitzkrieg the automobile And J OV* the Studebaker deal was abruptly terminated, Chrysler vanishing act—a short oneZJr same ing with the right name was set to go. His plans were so perfected that the dotted line of the off he gave the go-ahead necessary day negotiations were broken ment which permitted him f to the late Theodore F. MacManus, who already had the boss: "We own the Chapter XCII—The Probably it ”b£' Chrysler Corp. written his advertising copy. The baby had been born. was just as Mark Twain created advertising broadside Chrysler had to show Pudd’nhead Wilson half a century Well I remember the stir this outside * ago and made him created, boldness way, for the Commodore lobhv as famous as A. Conan Doyle did his of the newcomer in the industry the as good as a ringside bherlock Holmes.
    [Show full text]
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    Frequently Asked Questions FLEETS What vehicles are available to purchase in Minnesota? PlugInConnect posts an updated guide on electric vehicles available for purchase in the Midwest. It covers both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The guide can be accessed at www.pluginconnect.com/mnpevmodels Which electric vehicles are the most commonly sold in Minnesota? The Tesla Model S is the most frequently sold EV in Minnesota, but its high cost can make it unattractive for city fleets. There are many battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with fewer sales but are fantastic for fleet use. More affordable examples include the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt, and Mitsubishi Outlander, to name a few. Which electric vehicles are the best ones for Minnesota’s cold climate? It’s a common misconception that EVs have poor performance in winter since they’re primarily front-wheel drive vehicles. Anecdotally, however, we’ve heard from several EV owners that an EV with snow tires outperforms an all-wheel drive vehicle with all-weather tires. That being said, newer vehicles are better suited to cold weather because of constantly evolving battery technology. While you shouldn’t expect to slip and slide in an EV in the winter, you should anticipate a 30% drop in battery range. Planning ahead, utilizing the heated seats and steering wheel, and minimizing cabin heat can improve the impact felt by winter battery range. Additionally, keep in mind that Norway and Iceland are currently leading the world in number of EVs sold, and they have much colder climates than ours! What vehicles are covered in the State Contract? Vehicles included in the state contract can be found on the Office of State Procurement website and can only be purchased by Cooperative Purchasing Venture members.
    [Show full text]
  • Plugged In: How Americans Charge Their Electric Vehicles Findings from the Largest Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration in the World
    Plugged In: How Americans Charge Their Electric Vehicles Findings from the largest plug-in electric vehicle infrastructure demonstration in the world Building the Laboratory Widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has the potential to significantly reduce our nation’s transportation petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Barriers to PEV adoption Chevrolet Volts and more for researchers to collect remain, however. One of than 300 Smart ForTwo and analyze data from their the most commonly cited Electric Drive vehicles in home charging units and barriers is the need for places Car2Go car-sharing fleets their PEVs. Data also was for PEV drivers to plug in their were enrolled in the project. collected from publicly vehicles. How many and what accessible charging stations kind of charging stations are This project was not just installed at a wide variety needed? Where and how about installing charging of venues in and between often do PEV drivers charge? infrastructure; the pur- metropolitan areas around pose was to build a living the United States. To answer these questions, laboratory to study its use the U.S. Department of and learn. Data collected from vehicles Energy launched The EV and charging infrastructure Project and the ChargePoint To accomplish this, Idaho over the 3-year project America project. Combined, National Laboratory part- period captured almost 125 these projects form the nered with the Blink Net- million miles of driving and largest PEV infrastructure work, ChargePoint, General 6 million charging events, demonstration in the world. Motors and OnStar, Nissan providing the most com- Between Jan. 1, 2011, and North America, and Car2Go prehensive view of PEV and Dec.
    [Show full text]