The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) released its Q1 2018 edition of The 50 States of Electric Vehicles. The quarterly series provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

The report finds that 42 states and the District of Columbia took actions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure during Q1 2018 (see figure below), with the greatest number of actions relating to electric vehicle fees, charging station deployment and electric vehicle studies.

The report notes four trends in electric vehicle activity apparent or emerging in Q1 2018: (1) states considering multi-faceted electric vehicle plans, (2) contention around utility ownership of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, (3) examining the role of demand charges in vehicle charging rates, and (4) piloting the co-location of energy storage systems with electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

A total of 275 electric vehicle actions were taken during Q1 2018 - more than were taken in the entirety of 2017 (227 actions). New York, New Jersey and Hawaii took the greatest number of actions during the quarter, followed by Massachusetts, Washington and Minnesota.

Q1 2018 Legislative and Regulatory Action on Electric Vehicles

"So far in 2018, we see a number of states taking actions that incorporate multiple strategies or involve existing statewide goals," noted Allison Carr, Clean Transportation Specialist at NCCETC. "Several states and utilities are starting to connect electric vehicle planning with other statewide electric grid modernization, transportation and environmental goals."

The report notes the top electric vehicle actions taken during the quarter were:

• Hawaii utilities publishing their Electrification of Transportation Strategic Roadmap;
• California regulators approving utilities' first wave of proposed electric vehicle programs and investments;
• A Maryland working group proposing a statewide electric vehicle portfolio;
• Missouri utilities proposing new electric vehicle programs; and
• Pennsylvania regulators issuing a policy statement on third-party electric vehicle charging.

"It is exciting to watch states live up to their reputation as laboratories of democracy," said Brian Lips, Senior Policy Project Manager at NCCETC. "States are testing out a variety of strategies to build strong electric vehicle markets and charging networks, with many states taking multi-pronged approaches themselves."

N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center | www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu