Community Readiness for Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles (EVs) are coming… are you and your community prepared? In order to prepare for the arrival of EVs, there are some basic topics that must be discussed: permitting process, codes, and economic benefits. We do not expect you to install EV chargers. Instead, we’re hoping to make EV adoption easier through planning. Executive Summary Fueling an EV costs less than fueling a gasoline combustion vehicle, and is run on domestically produced electricity, which keeps energy dollars in our country and promotes our energy independence. Electricity is almost entirely generated within this country, and also can be both local and renewable. In this way EVs promote environmental sustainability, and more importantly: economic stability. The installation of charging infrastructure will stimulate job growth, providing another source of work for contractors.
Keeping the permitting process simple is one way to facilitate the growth of EVs in our region. All “Level II” charging stations, meaning stations that use a 240-volt plug simply follow the existing processes and are inspected by a local electrical inspector. There is no need to add additional steps or requirements for Level II charging stations placed downtown, in parking lots, or in homes beyond existing regulatory processes. Another aspect is including EV readiness into local codes for new construction. This means that when updating codes, EV readiness should be included. If the codes are not being updated, there should at least be information provided to encourage EVreadiness in new building. Even if codes are not updated, communities should seek ways encourage all property owners (including public entities) to plan for EV charging. Installing electrical conduit can be very cheap anytime a parking lot is repaved, sidewalks moved or replaced, or buildings renovated. By avoiding the costs of cutting into these structures, EV readiness can be achieved for the very low cost of pre-installed conduit, and properly sized electric panels. After all, who wants to tear up perfectly good cement? Thank you for your communities’ involvement in this program, CLEER – Clean Energy Economy for the Region
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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OUTCOME #1: Progress on EV Readiness is Being Made in Garfield County and the Roaring Fork Valley: Electric Vehicle readiness is happening all over our region. Within a year, there will be infrastructure readiness to support a large network of EV charging locations, allowing EV drivers to travel with each around our region without range limitations and concerns. There are already three Level I plugs for EVs in the Rifle parking garage as well as two public chargers in downtown Aspen. As part of its BRT and VelociRFTA project, RFTA will be installing a mix of Level I and II capability at five park-and-ride locations between Glenwood Springs and Aspen by fall of 2013 and hopes to have at least 1 EV charging spot at each of 5 park and rides, with the ability to grow that to 25+ EV charging spots system-wide. The City of Glenwood Springs has planned electric capacity to support future installation of two Level II chargers in their new parking garage. Further, there has been discussion at CMC to install charging capabilities at their garage as well. The map below illustrates the existing and planned electric charging stations as well as compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. CLEER has also been advising Mountain Valley Developmental Services as their fleet’s lease expires in October 2012. By choosing plug-in hybrid vehicles as part of their leased fleet, they will have zero up-front costs, but immediate savings of up to $20,000 annually. This is because the differences in monthly lease costs are minimal, but fuel and maintenance costs will immediately begin to accrue savings.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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OUTCOME #2: Success Factors for EVSE permitting One step in EV adoption that is often perceived as a hurdle is permitting; however, this process does not have to be complicated or burdensome. The clearest indicators of a successful permitting process are that it is safe, fast, affordable, and simple. Safe: Major electrical projects must be completed by a licensed electrical contractor and checked by a local inspection agency inspector. These steps are already required for any EVSE installation under the NEC. To minimize any confusion, electricians and inspectors should be exposed to EV charging equipment and be familiarity with the products and common issues that may arise. Fast: The permit approval must be kept under 48 hours minimum, and ideally under 24 hours, ensuring that the entire EVSE installation process takes less than one week. To achieve this goal, keep the number of parties involved in the process low. For nearly all cases, the existing electrical permitting process should be sufficient and utilities or other local or state departments should only be used in extenuating circumstances. Affordable: Keep permit prices below $100. The decision to purchase an electric car already comes with a significant price differential, and the more costs associated with the purchase of an EV, the less viable an option EVs will appear. Simple: Though there are multiple steps to the process, most installations can be handled by the electrician and inspector (see Diagram 1) with little burden on the customer (see Diagram 2).
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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Diagram 1: Flow chart of EVSE permitting using existing processes Steps in the left-most column are optional and should not be requirements of EV permitting. These steps are instead meant to identify ways that 3rd parties can track the increase in EVSE installations without impeding the permitting process.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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Diagram 2: Flow chart from the perspective of the EV owner This chart highlights that the EV owner experience is quite simple. The process is managed by the electrician and the steps are carried out by other parties.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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OUTCOME #3: Permitting Process Recommendations The recommended permitting process for the EVSE State of Colorado is to follow the normal approval processes that already exist for installation of new electrical equipment. Rather than recommend a new approval process, the existing permit processes should be standardized and streamlined regarding EVSE, wherever possible. Recommended existing approval processes for major electrical work: 1) Property owner hires an electrical contractor. This can be done using a bid process or simply selecting a contractor from the Yellow Pages. 2) Contractor evaluates project requirements. 3) Contractor requests an electric permit from the local inspection agency. 4) Electrical contractor performs installation and requests inspection. 5) Inspector checks for proper installation and approves work. 6) Property owner begins use of new electrical equipment. Refinements to this process to streamline the EVSE process include: • Conduct trainings for inspection staff on EVSE installation standards to ensure universal familiarity with EVSE equipment and inspection processes • Standardize EVSE permit fees across regions • Set maximum EVSE permit fees • Set up online permit process • Require EVSE permits approvals within 1 business day • Perform EVSE inspections within 1-2 business days of request • Avoid requiring the electrician to be present at final inspection.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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OUTCOME #4: Addressing Concerns for Multi-Family Housing Multi-family housing units provide unique challenges and opportunities for accommodating EV charging infrastructure. Some of the challenges include parking spot designations, power supply, and data tracking and billing complexity. There is no one answer to how to best overcome these challenges; EVSE adoption in multi-family settings must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, there are also many benefits to be gained from establishing EV charging infrastructure, including positive publicity, new revenue streams, attracting and retaining clients, and gaining LEED points. Partnering with Residents and Business to Install EV Infrastructure Owners of Electric Vehicles need chargers creating an unfair expectation that a charging solution is entirely their responsibility. Having the user pay for all EVSE capital costs may appear to be a natural solution, but if the user is a renter, installation costs are likely to be a significant barrier. Certainly there wouldn’t be a problem from the building management’s perspective if the user paid for all of the costs, but in some cases installing an EV charging station in a multifamily building can be cost prohibitive for a single user. (Peterson, 2011) Rental property managers and owners and HOAs should work with residents to come up with a solution that accommodates EV charging. Rather than working to prevent or restrict EV charging station installation, or pushing the cost of installation entirely onto residents, there is an opportunity to improve the attractiveness of the property to new renters/buyers by working with existing residents to incorporate EV infrastructure and to prepare for additional expansion of that infrastructure. The HOA or property owner will benefit by accelerating the adoption of EVs by residents, because EVs help to reduce the monthly energy costs of vehicle owners living in multifamily units, thereby improving the ability of residents to make their rent or mortgage payments. Additionally, promoting EV charging capacity as a benefit of the rental or HOA can be a part of a “green” marketing approach. Regarding technical issues of installing EVSE infrastructure, efforts should be made to find the lowest-cost strategy for initial EVSE installations and allows for future expansion of EVSE installations as the need grows. This often means assigning EV charging spots to some of the more conveniently located spots because these are often closest to a parking structure’s electrical panels. Issues may arise depending on policies such as existing parking rules, but few of these obstacles are insurmountable. For EV owners who park in public parking lots, curbside parking, or do not have an assigned parking spot, charging options may be limited. Creative solutions such as curbside charging stations provided in partnership with the city or town, EVSEs in neighborhood public parking lots, or even EVSEs in private parking lots that are not used at night such as retail stores, religious institutions or schools should be considered. (Peterson, 2011)
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
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Another option for properties is to work with 3rd-party providers of EV charging infrastructure who set up business arrangements where thy operate charging equipment at a multi-family location at low cost or no cost to the property owner or HOA. One example of financing an EV charging station is where the property owner grants a multiyear lease to allow an EV station provider to install equipment at certain parking spots and the charge station provider owns and operates the charger and may also provide advertising services on the charger’s display screens. Feasibility Evaluation The first step in establishing EV charging in a multi-family housing scenario is to assess the feasibility of EVSE installation. The following outlines the steps to be taken for assessing installation of EV charging. 1) Take the hardest steps first: Find a location for the charger(s) that can be connected to a source of power. • Check if there is existing conduit running near the parking spot. If so, utilize it to bring wire to the space. • Assess the proximity of an electric panel. • Ensure that connecting the space to the panel can be done with a minimum of digging/trenching and without costly digging through asphalt or concrete. • If new conduit is added, consider adding larger size conduit so that multiple chargers will be able to use the same conduit in the future. 2) Verify that the source of power can accommodate a charger; determine metering method. • Check to see if there is capacity in the chosen electrical panel. It is common for older buildings to have extra capacity built into subpanels that can be used for new loads such as EV infrastructure. • If there is a need to add an electrical panel, add a panel that can accommodate additional chargers in the future. • If the chargers are not connected to the EV owner’s electric meter, the property owner/manager may choose to add one or more meters to track individual electric vehicle charging costs. • If new electric meters are added, verify with the utility that capacity to add meters exists and be sure to account for the utility charges for installing the meter. • Another metering option is to choose a charger that can meter electricity directly. • Addition of new hardware mentioned above requires space in electrical areas of the building. Ensure that space is available for mounting the hardware. 3) Contact your utility only if new meters or service upgrades are required. • Upgrading electrical services and adding utility meters can be expensive. • If a transformer upgrade is required, the upgrade costs will be even higher. • Costly upgrades can still be justified if they are shared among multiple charger (EVSE) installations.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
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4) When building or upgrading multi-family housing with common parking, a variety of options are available. • Install a minimum number of 208/240 Volt 40 Amp outlets, equal to 5 percent of the total number of parking spaces, to be located within the parking area; or • Install electrical panel capacity and empty conduit for the future installation of 208/240 Volt 40 Amp outlets, equal to a minimum of 5 percent of the total number of parking spaces, with a conduit terminating in the parking area • Install additional electrical service capacity (and transformer capacity), space for future meters, space for future sub-panels and conduit for future installation of electrical outlets, equal to a minimum 5 percent of the total number of parking spaces, with the conduits terminating in the parking area. Use of existing plugs in common-areas until dedicated EV charging is available: • Some properties have 120V plugs available but are concerned about how to recover energy costs of allowing a resident to access a plug in a common area. A simple solution for properties that allow use of 120V wall-plugs is to temporarily meter the plug with a simple metering device such as a “Kill-A-Watt” device. These meters record kWh use and can be used to determine the cost of energy used by the EV from the plug. Note: only charge EVs on wall plugs on circuits that are used solely by one EV at a time. Do not charge EVs using wall outlets on circuits that support other EVs or other support other electricity consuming equipment or lights on the same circuit breaker. Alternative Charging Options If the obstacles to EV charging at a specific multifamily residence are determined to be insurmountable, especially because of cost of installation, potential EV owners should look into other charging options. (MultiHousingCharging.com) • See if charging infrastructure may become available for you at your workplace. • Look for public charging infrastructure within walking distance to the residence. • Try to secure a dedicated nighttime parking spot with charging infrastructure from a nearby parking facility. • Check commercial parking areas nearby, in some locations, businesses like Walgreens are installing EV charging stations in their parking lots.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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OUTCOME #5: Preparing for EV Infrastructure During New Construction and During Remodel/Construction The cheapest way to be ready for the future is to incorporate low-cost preparations for EV infrastructure whenever remodeling properties, repaving parking lots or sidewalks, or building new facilities. By pre-installing conduit between electrical supply rooms and electric car charging areas, the future cost of EV infrastructure will be greatly reduced. Pre-installed conduit means installing low-cost plastic or metal pipe that is placed behind walls or under pavement and stubbed out for future use very low cost compared to the expense of cutting into walls or digging up pavement in the future. When the need for EV infrastructure arises, wire can be quickly and easily pulled through that conduit to deliver power to Electric Vehicles. Planning for EVs in Residential and Commercial Construction Residential To prepare for 120V Level I charging, install a dedicated 120V GFCI plug in garage. To prepare for 240V Level II charging, it is advisable to install conduit in-place to pull 240V 40A wire directly from a utility panel to garage/parking area; or install a 240V 40A circuit to a generic plug in garage/parking area. This is similar preparation to what a builder would do to prepare for residential renewables; pre-wiring for rooftop solar PV or pre-plumbing for rooftop solar thermal. Commercial To prepare for EV charging in new parking areas, select 5% of spaces or a minimum of 1 parking space to have conduit laid under pavement for EV charging equipment to be added later. Parking lots and/or parking along sidewalks should have conduit stubbed out in several locations and brought back to an electrical service area with capacity for 240V 40A circuits. In the case of parking garages, pre-placed "foam voids" should be installed in concrete walls to support easy running of conduit at a later date. Government Government properties should follow the Commercial recommendation above. Also, in order to encourage homes and businesses to put these accommodations in place in new construction or during any major remodel of existing property, the towns and cities in Garfield County should consider establishing incentives for voluntary compliance with these recommendations.
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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FUTURE OUTCOMES: Colorado Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan The FEVER grant from Department of Energy, administered by Colorado Clean Cities will wrap up soon in a final report and will be made available to all partners. Until that time, online resources are available. More information at: www.electricridecolorado.com and at www.garfieldcleanenergy.org/trans-EV.html
CLEER – www.cleanenergyeconomy.net -‐ 970 704 9200
August 2012
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