Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/16/2010 - Special Meeting

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Electric Vehicles: Is Your Community Connected? By TimothyM. Bourcier, AICP Electric vehicles are coming soon to a community near you. Utility Service Electric Level 1 Vehicle Receptacle Utility Meter Level 2 EVSE 0 This diagram shows typical Level t and Level 2 charging station installations in a residential garage. In early zoto, California -based Testa Motors became the first company to boast mass production of an electric vehicle in the U.S., and it has recently partnered with Toyota to produce and market these vehicles. Before this, two major companies had low -speed, plug-in vehicles on the market (also known as neighborhood electric vehicles). The BMW Mini E, Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius PHEV (electric -gas hybrid), and the Nis- san Leaf (plug-in rechargeable —all electric power) will be sold in select U.S. markets by the end of 2020, with a full rollout of the vehicles nationwide in 2ou. While customers are Iining'up to pur- chase plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), organiza- tions, utility companies, and governments are concurrently forming partnerships and work- ing to craft policies to promote the sale and use of EVs. More than 6,50o charging stations across southern California and Tennessee will be installed as part of the initial rollout. However, it is likely that many locali- ties have not considered how to regulate and permit individual charging stations at homes and commercial centers. The loca- tion of charging stations probably has not Premises Wiring Junction Box been thoroughly considered, either. This article explores a number of issues com- munities should consider when regulating charging stations. It also examines current community initiatives and the development of charging stations. Finally, this article will look at how potential technologies could further change how EVs will be integrated so communities can plan for them. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ELECTRICVEHICLE Electric vehicles have been around since the • early iBoos. The gas -powered internal combus- tion engine became more popular over time because higher performance and top speeds were achievable. Moreover, rechargeable, high- performance batteries and other technologies were not as viable as they are today. With advances in new technologies and policies pushing for alternative energy sources, automakers began reintroducing the EV. These new EVs use banks of re- chargeable batteries to power their electric motors. The batteries will be recharged by plugging the vehicle into an electrical outlet, similar to recharging household batteries in a battery charger. While Testa and Nissan have developed cars that run completely on battery power, Chevrolet and others are introducing vehicles that will continue to run on gas and also in- corporate plug-in rechargeable technologies. These cars are more advanced than existing hybrid vehicles and will rely less on gasoline. LOCAL ELECTRICAL CODE This article does not examine local electri- cal and building codes. This is an important consideration, however, as charging sta- tions will likely have to be permitted and inspected by the local permitting authority. Professional installers will likely already be familiar with local codes or will have to become familiar with the code. Planning and development divisions should examine the electrical code and determine how this new technology is regulated. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS EVs operate either partially or entirety on bat- tery power. The batteries need to be recharged periodically in order to receive the benefits of electrical power, or in the case ofTesla models and the Nissan Leaf, the battery must be charged to operate at all. If these vehicles become as popular as hybrid vehicles, there will be a demand for places to charge them. In touting the ease of their products, some manufacturers seem to imply that EVs can be charged by simply pluggingthem in to a conventional outlet. However, recharging is not exactly that easy. These new electric ve- - hicles will require a special outlet, specifically the 1t772 five -pronged outlet, which has been developed for uniform use with plug-in ve- hicles. The vehicles charge at different rates based on the voltage of the outlet. A Level I station charges at no volts. A conventional 22o volt household outlet, or Leven' charging station, will require eight hours connection time to fully charge an all -electric -powered 112 ZONINGPRACTICE 7.2o AMERICAN PLANNING rSSoCIA➢ON1page 3