PlugInSites | Public EV charging experiences & resources

Beverly Hills to Reverse Ban on Plug-In Hybrid Charging

November 5, 2018 Lanny

City Traffic and Parking Commission Responds to New California Law

The City of Beverly Hills made changes to their Electric Vehicle Charging Policy on April 2, 2018 which were designed to encourage more efficient use of the city-operated 35 public charging stations. A controversial aspect of the new policy was to prohibit plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from using the charging stations.

The city also implemented EV charging fees, updated signs to reserve charging spots exclusively for battery-only electric vehicles and defined a new enforcement regulation to fine and/or tow all other vehicles including plug-in hybrids, gas-only vehicles and any all-battery EV that didn’t activate a charging session.

California State Senator Ricardo Lara, authored SB 1000 which contained a provision that barred local municipalities from restricting plug-in hybrids from using public EV charging stations funded using state or ratepayer money.

65850.9. (a) A city, county, or city and county shall not restrict which types of electric vehicles, including, but not limited to, plug-in hybrid vehicles, may access an electric vehicle charging station approved for passenger vehicles that both is publicly accessible and the construction of which was funded, at least in part, by the state or through moneys collected from ratepayers.

Howard County Passes Legislation to Require EV Charging at New Residential Construction

October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 Lanny

Howard County Council

An Important Move Forward for Electric Vehicles

Howard County, Maryland has passed legislation to require EV charging infrastructure at new residential construction.

This legislation is one of the first of its kind outside of California. In November, 2017, the city of Atlanta adopted an EV charging infrastructure readiness requirement for new construction. At the time, Georgia ranked second behind California for sales of electric vehicles.

The Howard County Council voted unanimously to approve CB76-2018 sponsored by Councilwoman Jen Terrasa who said, “This is an important move forward for electric vehicles and for the environment.”

A public hearing on CB76 was held on October 15, 2018 and brought out a number of EV drivers, future EV drivers and organizations such as the Howard County Citizens Association to testify in support of the bill.

The Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA) and the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) opposed the bill. Some of their concerns were addressed by an amendment that included language to clarify that the bill applied only to new construction.

Councilwoman Terrasa summarized the bill:

“This legislation does two things. For newly constructed communities with townhomes without garages or driveways, apartments, or condos, a community-accessible electric vehicle charging station must be installed at the ratio of 1 charging station per 25 units. For newly constructed single family homes or townhomes with garages or driveways, the developer is required to install what wiring so that the homeowner can easily complete the installation of a charging unit.”

Baltimore Supercharger Open

October 23, 2018October 23, 2018 Lanny

A Tesla Supercharger in the parking garage at 1641 Whetstone Way, Baltimore, Maryland is now open. There are eight stalls in the East Parking Garage in McHenry Row by the Harris Teeter in Locust Point.

The eight urban-style Supercharger stalls are positioned along the south wall at the top of the ramp leading to the second floor. The red Tesla signs indicate that two spaces are dedicated to Tesla Vehicle Charging Only with the remaining six labeled 30 Minute General Parking.

This garage has solar panels on the top deck courtesy of a Maryland Energy Administration grant. The Parking Lot Solar PV Canopy with Electric Vehicle Charger Grant was awarded in 2014.

There are two GE Level 2 charging stations on the ground floor in the SE corner, one ChargePoint L2 on the NE corner and two SemaConnect charging stations in the NW corner on the third level.

The Tesla “Find Us” web page had said that the Baltimore Supercharger was targeted to open summer 2018. Tesla has also identified Annapolis Supercharger as opening this summer and it has been under construction at the Annapolis Towne Centre since late May and appears to be close to being finished. Stay tuned.

Roscoe, NY Supercharger Under Construction

October 22, 2018 Lanny

A Tesla Supercharger is under construction at the Roscoe Diner just off Route 17 in Roscoe, New York.

The town’s Building Department confirms that a permit has been issued and a source says that construction is currently under way.

Excavation activity on the SE edge of the parking lot can be seen from the Roscoe Diner’s Webcam.

The Tesla Supercharger will be a welcome addition to the growing number of charging stations becoming available in the Sullivan County Catskills.
Read More …

Tesla Supercharger Coming to Haymarket, Virginia

October 19, 2018 Lanny

Tesla Supercharger Haymarket

A permit has been issued to build a Tesla Supercharger at Sheetz in Haymarket, Virginia.

The Sheetz is on the SE corner of Route 15 and Route 55, just off of I-66 Exit 40. Map link

The site plans submitted to Prince William County show eight Supercharger stalls along the north side of the Sheetz parking lot parallel to and across from the gas pumps.

After a lull in new Superchargers in the Washington, DC area, we are starting to see signs of life again.
Read More …

Legislation to End the $7,500 Federal EV Tax Credit Introduced

October 10, 2018October 10, 2018 Lanny

US Capitol PlugInSites
U.S. Senator John Barrasso, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, introduced The Fairness for Every Driver Act, S.3559 which seeks to repeal the federal electric vehicle tax credit which currently offers up to $7,500 on new EV purchases. Senator Barrasso, who represents Wyoming, said, “The electric vehicle tax credit largely benefits the wealthiest Americans and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.”

“This legislation will save billions in taxpayer funds by ending the federal electric vehicle tax credits and strengthen the Highway Trust Fund by ensuring that alternative fuel vehicle drivers pay into it,” said Barrasso. “My legislation levels the playing field for all drivers across America. Gas, electric, and alternative fuel vehicles use the same roads. All should contribute to maintain them.”

The Fairness for Every Driver Act will require a federal highway user fee on alternative fuel vehicles that will be applied to the Highway Trust Fund.

Specifically, the legislation would:

Terminate and repeal the federal electric vehicle tax credit up to $7,500 per new electric vehicle purchased for use in the U.S.;
Impose a federal highway user fee on alternative fuel vehicles;
Require that all user fees be collected with the user’s tax return; and
Ensure the transfer of federal highway user fees into the Highway Trust Fund.

A House bill, H.R.6274, sponsored by Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont seeks to extend the EV tax credit for ten years and make the credit available to an unlimited number of EV buyers.

Read the text of Sen. Barrasso’s legislation here.

Follow @PlugInSites on Twitter and subscribe below for updates.

Subscribe to Plug In Sites via email

2018 Virginia Energy Plan Recommends EV Infrastructure

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 Lanny

The Commonwealth of Virginia has released their 2018 Energy Plan [PDF] which includes recommendations for electric vehicles and advanced transportation.

The report notes that there are approximately 11,000 Plug-in Electric Vehicles registered in Virginia. This is about 0.14 percent of all passenger vehicles in the state. There are 62 public DC fast-charging locations that are concentrated in different areas of the state.

The report says that the lack of an accessible statewide DC fast-charging network is a major barrier to the growth of the EV market because it “restricts drivers’ ability to take longer trips and limits the utility and attractiveness of EVs, especially for any household without the ability to charge at home.”

Virginia was designated a beneficiary in the Volkswagen Diesel Emission Mitigation Settlement and the report shares that some funds from the settlement were used to award a contract to EVgo to create a public charging network to complement existing charging infrastructure. The priority will be to support high-speed DC fast charging located along heavily traveled corridors and metro areas across the state. Level 2 charging stations will also be installed statewide.
Read More …

Howard County Proposal to Require EV Charging at New Residential Construction

September 28, 2018October 15, 2018 Lanny

Council Bill CB76 Introduced by Jen Terrasa

Howard County, Maryland Councilwoman Jen Terrasa has introduced a bill that will require new multi-unit residential construction to have electric vehicle charging equipment and require new townhouses and single family detached homes to be prepared with wiring and equipment for future installation of a home EV charging station.

If passed, proposed bill CB76-2018 would require at least one J-1772 Level 2 charging connector for each 25 residential units for new occupancies of multi-unit residential buildings including condominiums and co-ops.

A public hearing on CB76 is scheduled for October 15, 2018 at 7:00 PM at the Howard County Council Meeting at the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.

Click here to contact Howard County Council Members.

Cities Can’t Ban Plug-In Hybrids from Charging Under New California Law

September 19, 2018October 2, 2018 Lanny

Will Likely End Beverly Hills Ban on PHEV Charging

The City of Beverly Hills, California changed their Electric Vehicle Charging Policy on April 2, 2018 in an effort designed to encourage more efficient use of the city’s 35 public charging stations. One of the key changes to the policy was to prohibit plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from charging.

The policy had been developed by the Beverly Hills Traffic & Parking Commission and approved by the City Council and implemented EV charging fees, defined signage to reserve charging spots exclusively for battery-only electric vehicles and implemented a new enforcement regulation to fine and/or tow all other vehicles including plug-in hybrids, gas-only vehicles and any BEV not actively charging.

Bill SB 1000, authored by California State Senator Ricardo Lara, passed the legislature and was signed by Gov. Brown last week. The bill contained a provision that prohibited local municipalities from restricting access to public EV charging stations that are funded using state or ratepayer money.

65850.9. (a) A city, county, or city and county shall not restrict which types of electric vehicles, including, but not limited to, plug-in hybrid vehicles, may access an electric vehicle charging station approved for passenger vehicles that both is publicly accessible and the construction of which was funded, at least in part, by the state or through moneys collected from ratepayers.

Hurricane Florence EV Drivers Evacuation Update

September 13, 2018 Lanny

Tesla owners in the path of Hurricane Florence received a message on their car’s screen on Wednesday notifying them that Supercharging would be free until mid-October. Owners in the affected area with cars that were built with a 75 kWh battery pack but sold as a 60 kWh with the capacity being limited via software were notified that they would have access to the entire capacity for a time during and after the natural disaster.