"The State of California is leading the way to transition our transportation system to 100% zero-emission vehicles, but the millions of drivers who don't have access to at-home charging are at risk of being left behind," said McCarty. "If we want all Californians to have access to electric mobility, we must provide them with convenient and affordable public charging options where they already park: the curb."
Home charging is the most convenient, cost-effective solution to advance EV adoption. And yet, the California Energy Commission (CEC) found that no more than 33% of multi-family housing residents have access to home charging and that lower income residents, and residents who identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, or Latino have the lowest access to home charging.
Co-sponsored by charging companies Flo and Itselectric, AB 2427 requires the CEC to assess the potential benefits of curbside charging for those who have the least access. It also requires the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to develop permitting tools and best practices so that local governments can more seamlessly help realise these benefits. Additionally, it requires local governments to consider these tools when developing permitting requirements and criteria to assist developers in siting and deploying curbside charging.
"If we strategically leverage the public right-of-way, we open up numerous new possibilities to increase communities' access to EV charging right at the curb," said Louis Tremblay, president and CEO of Flo. "But doing so requires planning and collaboration between both the state and local governments. This bill supports that work and will help expand charging access for the Californians that need it the most.
