This is part of a collection of case studies that focus on creative charging solutions for EV drivers in multifamily housing. For more information and the full collection, visit our Charging Solutions for EV Drivers in Multifamily Housing hub.
Challenge
While electric vehicles don’t emit carbon dioxide, the energy that powers them may come from non-renewable sources. Single-family homeowners can install solar panels and power EVs with 100% renewable energy, but most residents of multifamily housing don’t have this option. How can multifamily housing residents access public EV charging powered by renewable energy?
Objectives and solutions
Ava Community Energy is a community choice aggregator in California, a nonprofit community government agency. It builds–and buys from–clean power plants to provide electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric, an investor-owned utility company that delivers the electricity to customers. Ava Community Energy returns excess revenue to the communities it serves, including Alameda County and the City of Tracy.
Ava Community Energy decided to build public EV chargers because a large percentage of greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation in their service territory. They also realized that access to fast and reliable charging is a critical barrier to EV adoption, especially for residents of multifamily housing. Their first 31 public charging stations are located at City Center West Garage in downtown Oakland, an area with lots of multifamily housing and businesses nearby. Drivers can see current charging prices on the PlugShare or EV Connect apps and pay for charging with a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or through the EV Connect app. Parking fees are waived at the garage for the first hour of charging. Ava Community Energy is also collecting customer feedback surveys from their current charging location to better inform future charging projects. This solution allows multifamily housing residents to charge with renewable energy in a convenient and affordable way.
Elements for Success
- DC fast charging is provided directly from the electric utility, which makes the installation process smoother and ensures the cost of charging is affordable.
- The public chargers are powered by renewable energy, giving all drivers more choices for how they charge.
- The 31 public chargers range from 100 to 280 kW, allowing drivers to charge quickly and minimize parking fees.
References
Recap:
Charger type: DC fast charging
Charging type: Public
Problem addressed: Access, Equipment
Solution type: Utility
