California Center for Sustainable Energy

California Center for Sustainable Energy leader in planning for electric vehicle deployment

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2011) - The California Energy Commission has awarded $400,000 for two collaborative planning projects managed by the California Center for Sustainable Energy ( CCSE) in San Diego to help prepare the state for widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and the required transportation infrastructure.

Both projects will focus on developing a regional PEV plan, one in San Diego with the San Diego Association of Governments and the other in the Central Valley with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. In addition to infrastructure, the plans will include outreach and education for consumers and training for municipal planning staff and building inspectors.

Funding for the planning projects comes from the energy commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, which is designed to leverage public and private development in PEV technologies to help meet the state’s goals for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing dependence on petroleum in the transportation sector.

"This innovative transportation investment program is unique in the country," said Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd. "This investment will also create California jobs, improve the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. An essential element of California's climate change and energy policies, this program successfully attracts outside investment and promotes sustainable transportation alternatives within our state."

"These projects will help communities address their specific needs in preparation for more electric vehicles, such as building codes and permitting processes for vehicle chargers, and each will create a plan that will be publicly available so that other municipalities and stakeholders can learn the best practices for electric vehicle deployment," said Mike Ferry, CCSE transportation programs manager. "Part of the goal is to make installation of home charging equipment as routine as installation of any major household appliance."

CCSE is also participating in a $1 million grant awarded to a consortium of California agencies by the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative to develop PEV infrastructure readiness statewide. The center is the coordinator of the one-year project in the San Diego region, working in conjunction with the 19 municipalities in the county as well as other stakeholders, including the San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition, the San Diego Association of Governments and San Diego Gas and Electric.

The San Diego region is at the forefront of PEV deployment with the highest per capita ownership of plug-in vehicles in the nation and the largest projected number of charging stations. According to Ferry, there are more than 800 PEVs in the region with an anticipated 1,000 charge points, both residential and public. installed by the end of the year.