How Curbside Charging Increases EV Accessibility, With Tiya Gordon Climate Break podcast

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How Curbside Charging Increases EV Accessibility, with Tiya Gordon

1d ago 1:45

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The Rise in EV Adoption

The US electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to reach a revenue of $95.9 billion this year, with a projected annual growth rate of 12.61% over the course of the next four years. By 2035, California and twelve other states are planning to achieve 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales, calling upon local governments to assist in the EV transition to ensure equitable access to this new technology. For homeowners who have the ability to power up in their own garage, making the transition to EVs is relatively easy; however, for renters and those living in larger metropolitan areas, access to charging infrastructure remains a significant challenge. Although EV adoption is on the rise, urban areas are under constraint as they do not have sufficient charging infrastructure to keep up with heightening demand. High building density, limited capacity of the electricity grid, and insufficient funding and staffing are posing challenges for city governments across the country. Brooklyn-based startup, It’s Electric, is working on one possible solution to this problem through the installation of curbside charging, powered from buildings on the adjacent property rather than directly from the utility grid.

Building EV Charging Accessibility

Curbside charging works by minimizing the distance consumers need to travel to fuel their EV, thereby increasing accessibility of charging infrastructure. Many dense-urban areas have been referred to as “charging deserts,” due to their lack of accessible EV charging infrastructure, making the transition in these areas particularly challenging. Instead of the mainstream route in which charging infrastructure is developed through utility connections (which can be a 12 to 18 month process), startups like It’s Electric partner with property owners, acquire the relevant permits, and install and maintain a charger powered by the building’s electrical supply. Property owners can thus use untapped electricity supplies, allowing for installation without extensive infrastructure development or direct connections, providing property owners with passive revenue. Instead of working directly with electric utilities to install their chargers, It’s Electric partners with municipalities and building owners directly. Further, the parking space will be maintained by the city, so the property owner doesn’t need to worry about managing and maintaining the parking spot.

Benefits of Curbside Charging

Curbside charging provides immense promise for city governments in transitioning towards more equitable access of EV charging infrastructure. For lower-income communities – particularly those without access to private driveways, garages, or who reside in multifamily housing – publicly accessible EV charging can help reduce barriers to participation in the ongoing shift to electric vehicles. As curbside charging is still in the beginning stages of development, policymakers can incorporate community members in decision-making. Thus, EV charging can be largely community-driven, incorporating opinions from local residents to make the transition fit the needs of the community. In dense urban areas, curbside charging can assist in reducing pollution and GHG emissions, particularly in high-emissions neighborhoods. Other strategies to keep in mind include providing discounts and cost reduction measures for lower income drivers as well as strategies like car share, mobility hubs, and colocation with other transportation services to improve accessibility.

Drawbacks

Without addressing lower-income communities and those living in rental properties, EV charging can exacerbate current socioeconomic disparities and push marginalized communities out of the growing market. Thus, in tackling this transition, focus must be placed on targeted communities that lack the necessary resources to successfully adopt EVs. It’s Electric has noted that there is more demand than they can meet right now, which represents the urgent call for this transition to occur. It’s Electric is currently integrating Level 2 chargers into city infrastructure, rather than the faster direct current (DC) chargers that can power one’s vehicle in 15-30 minutes. Because DC chargers take up significant amounts of space, require more infrastructure to develop, and utilize more electricity, it is not yet feasible to implement these in urban areas. Unfortunately, that leads to slower charging times and potentially limits an area’s charging capacity. Another drawback of curbside charging in large cities can be attributed to limited sidewalk space and thus heightened demand for the few available units. Amidst these potential challenges, It’s Electric has successfully resolved problems such as grid capacity and design by providing affordable, easy to install, and compact charging stations. By working collectively with policymakers, urban planners, transportation specialists, and community members, companies like It’s Electric have begun to make curbside charging a reality.

Who is Tiya Gordon?

Tiya Gordon, co-founder of It’s Electric, is transforming the way we approach EV charging by reimagining how publicly accessible chargers are integrated into public spaces. Tiya holds 20 years experience in design, leadership, and operations across a range of disciplines for some of the country’s top firms and institutions. She is now venturing to spend the next 20 years building companies that use design to wage war against the Climate Crisis.

For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/curbside-charging-increases-ev-accessibility-with-tiya-gordon/

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