We must build tomorrow’s transportation infrastructure with equity at its core
The Senate's passing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill is a historic breakthrough in the country's progress toward decarbonized transport, with $7.5 billion allocated to create charging stations across the country and another $7.5 billion to transition buses and other public transportation to zero-emission options.
EVs would undoubtedly improve health outcomes, but there are only 17 EV charging stations for the borough's 1.4 million residents.
While EVs are becoming more attainable to average consumers thanks to government incentives, battery innovation and used cars entering the market, access to charging stations is a major barrier.
Installing home charging systems is expensive, and for moderate-to-low-income people living in apartments or affordable housing, it's simply not an option.
EXPANDED PASSENGER CHARGING IS PICKING UP SPEED. Some cities are accelerating efforts to expand charging access.
Texas utility Austin Energy has leveraged government funding for an affordability program offering unlimited access to charging ports with a $4 per month subscription.
On-site electricity generation, storage and demand-side management must be developed alongside charging stations to ensure cost-efficient, reliable and sustainable energy delivery.
Not only will installing charging stations along key highway corridors lower the emissions and pollutants in the areas where many low-income and BIPOC communities are situated, this will help increase access to EV charging in rural areas where fleets often have to drive through to reach their final destination.
Like commercial fleets, electric bus fleets come with complex energy needs that can only be met by the development of robust on-site energy and charging infrastructure.
With the emergence of energy-as-a-service providers focused on vehicle electrification, real estate developers, commercial fleet owners and municipalities now have feasible, low-risk options for deploying charging infrastructure at no upfront cost.