EV charger report forecasts significant needs for infrastructure

A new report from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council provides a comprehensive view of the current electric vehicle charging landscape, as well as recommendations for policy actions to support a robust, equitable and accessible charging network across the Commonwealth.

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council, established by last year’s offshore wind and climate bill, was charged with creating an electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment plan. Its 82-page Initial Assessment includes a series of recommendations and was published on Aug. 11.

Building out a network of electric vehicle charging stations is a core challenge to achieving the state’s transition to a clean energy economy, according to the report, and is necessary to meet the goals of the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plans for 2025/2030 and 2050, which requires a near-total transition to zero-emission vehicles.

The council estimates that 10,000 publicly accessible fast charging ports; 35,000 publicly accessible Level 2 stations; and more than 700,000 residential and workplace charging stations will be needed to support electric vehicles. This represents a build-out of between six and 15 times the current charging infrastructure in Massachusetts, and may add as much as 1,400 megawatts of additional peak demand on the electric grid.

The assessment covers the current state of EV charging infrastructure, future needs, the user experience, what’s needed to improve access, grid updates, technological advances, and policy recommendations. It was informed by input during a series of public meetings from electric vehicle drivers, industry professionals, consumer advocacy groups, and state officials on topics ranging from the driver experience to impacts on the electrical grid.

The council’s recommendations include:
• Legislation to require publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers to register with the Division of Standards so they can be regularly inspected
• “Right to charge” legislation to help tenants and people living in condominiums install charging infrastructure
• Working with municipalities to develop guidance and support for programs to expand curbside charging and overnight charging infrastructure for tenants and those without garages
• Focusing on the deployment of publicly available funds for environmental justice populations and rural areas
• Developing programs to reduce the transmission and distribution infrastructure burden of electric vehicle chargers by using policies such as time-of-use rates and technologies such as on-site storage and bidirectional charging to turn electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations into grid assets
• Regulations to ensure that publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers are registered, inspected and tested
• Regulations that apply consumer protections to electric vehicle supply equipment
• Working across state agencies, as well as with cities and towns, to coordinate procurement processes

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council will continue to meet, and is looking into establishing a website focused on electric vehicles, electric vehicle supply equipment, and funding opportunities. The council says it will track progress on its recommendations, and will conduct more research on electric vehicle supply equipment and related infrastructure costs.

The council must also determine how to program $50 million in the Charging Infrastructure Deployment Fund that is under its authority.

Council members include Energy and Environmental Affairs Undersecretary Michael Judge, Transportation Undersecretary Monica Tibbets-Nutt, Housing and Economic Development Undersecretary Layla D’Emilia, officials from a range of state agencies, legislators, and a representative from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Questions about the council may be directed to daniel.gatti@mass.gov.