First Meeting of Maryland Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Workgroup

Effective July 1, 2024, the Maryland General Assembly authorized the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Workgroup. The Workgroup is tasked with developing a framework for reliability and reporting standards for electric vehicle charging stations, studying and making recommendations regarding which government entities have responsibility for ensuring accountability for charging stations, and making recommendations on adopting and implementing regulations.

The EVSE Workgroup held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Chaired by the Maryland Public Service Commission, the Workgroup consists of 13 members designated by the authorizing legislation. Members of the public were given an opportunity to provide comments at the end of the meeting. A recording of the meeting is now available on the Commission’s YouTube channel.

Senator Shelly Hettleman, the sponsor of Senate Bill 951 that created the EVSE Workgroup, said the idea stemmed from hearing her constituents’ frustrations. Both current electric vehicle owners and potential buyers have voiced concerns about the existing infrastructure. As she investigated further, it became clear that many different agencies have oversight responsibilities, but there is a lack of seamless coordination among them. A key area needing improvement is ensuring that charging stations are up and running and being as efficient as possible.

Workgroup Responsibilities

Development and Study

• Develop a framework for reliability and reporting standards for EV charging stations.
• Study and make recommendations regarding which government entities have responsibility for ensuring accountability for EV charging stations.

Recommendations for Regulations

• Make recommendations regarding adopting and implementing regulations that may:
• Establish different payment options for the retail use of EV supply equipment, including:
  • Credit card, mobile phone, and toll-free number payment options.
  • Options for customers with disabilities and non-English speaking customers.
• Prohibit an EV service provider from requiring a subscription or membership to initiate a charging session.
• Authorize an EV service provider to offer services on a subscription or membership basis.
• Establish requirements for transparent information regarding EV charging stations, including charging rates, location, accessibility, and real-time availability.
• Enable users with a subscription or membership with an EV service provider to use an EV charging station that is not part of the subscription membership.
• Establish employee training or certification requirements for individuals who install or perform maintenance on EV supply equipment.
• Establish minimum power output limits for EV supply equipment and EV charging stations.
• Establish registration and certification requirements.
• Require the submission of reports on EV supply equipment to:
  • The Office of the Comptroller.
  • The Public Service Commission.
  • The Alternative Fuels Data Center in the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Establish labeling requirements, including labeling requirements for EV charging station charging rates, capacity, and voltage.
• Require an uptime of 97%.
• Specify how uptime will be measured, including:
  • Whether uptime must be calculated per EV charging port or per EV charging connector.
  • The date to which downtime is backdated.
  • Whether downtime includes EV charging station disconnection or broken interface features when the EV supply equipment can still output electricity.
• Establish exemptions from the uptime requirement of 97%.
• Establish customer support requirements, including:
  • Labeling requirements for providing customer support information on an EV charging station.
  • Minimum hours of operation for:
  • General customer service needs.
  • Providing or dispatching customer assistance.
• Establish minimum hours of operation for EV charging stations.
• Require proactive monitoring of EV supply equipment and EV charging stations.
• Establish standards and procedures for accurate field standards in accordance with the most recent edition of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Handbook 44.
• Establish standards for the use of:
  • Combined Charging Systems (CCS), under which a standard EV charging connector allows a direct current fast charger to connect to, communicate with, and charge an electric vehicle.
  • North American Charging Systems (NACS), under which a Tesla standard EV charging connector allows a direct current fast charger to connect to, communicate with, and charge an electric vehicle.
• Establish civil penalties for noncompliance with the regulations.

Deference to NEVI, Delayed Applicability and Exclusions

• Recommendations made under the above section shall:
• Give deference to the Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, but may permit deviation for good cause.
• Provide a delayed applicability date for EV supply equipment installed before the date the regulations are initially adopted.
• Exclude regulations that apply to:
  • EV supply equipment used for noncommercial purposes.
  • EV supply equipment that supplies wholesale electricity.

More meetings will be held throughout the summer as the Workgroup prepares to deliver a report by November 1st.