The Importance of Proactive Utility EV Programs and Keys to Success
As the United States begins to pass an increasing number of policies and legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing and transitioning internal combustion engines to electric propulsion, the demand for utility electric vehicle charging infrastructure programs has quickly grown. In order to successfully support this growth, a proactive approach by utilities to create and implement a strategic plan briefly outlined in the steps below is the key to success.
Be proactive while planning for infrastructure. It will reduce delays and account for challenges that will arise due to changes in power requirements and advancements in technology. Upgrades require years of planning, permitting, and construction that can cause disruptions as well as affect customer experience.
Build a strong transportation electrification team. It is paramount in your journey to success. Teams, at the very least, should consist of an EV charging infrastructure expert and an education outreach manager who can conduct market research, assess grid impacts, and outline how the utility interacts with and educates the customer.
Focus on the customer experience. Site planning, customer engagement and marketing funnels, evaluation of participant applications, design and construction considerations, and follow-up are all important to successful community engagement and support.
Anticipate policy changes as EV adoption builds and take part in the process. Consider equitable access, land use, regulations and permitting and how they might affect your timelines and processes and in turn your customer experience as well as innovation in the future.
In our experience, utilities that proactively create a strategic EV program will have the most success long term in supporting sustainable EV growth in their service areas. Due to the rapid upward trajectory of EV adoption, the creation of thorough plans utilizing these best practices will allow for the best outcomes in large-scale deployments of EV charging infrastructure.
