Electric vehicle (EV) deployment in the region took center stage at Public Policy Day at the D.C. Auto Show, in an event hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC).

Featuring two panels of subject matter experts and emceed by Arlington County Board Member and 2023 CEEPC Chair Takis Karantonis, “Accelerating Action on Electric Vehicles” brought together over 75 regional leaders 100 regional leaders and advocates across sectors.

The gathering was the latest step in COG’s work to further the accessibility, equity, and efficiency of metropolitan Washington’s EV network. In September, the COG Board identified electric vehicle deployment as a regional priority and  adopted a resolution establishing an Electric Vehicle Deployment Working Group and EV Clearinghouse. 

The working group provides an opportunity for jurisdictions to collaborate on a regional deployment plan, while the EV Clearinghouse will serve as a “one stop shop” on federal, state, and local grants and technical assistance programs to aid localities in EV deployment.

While regional leaders are committed to the development of a robust EV network, conversations prompted by the event’s panels underscored the importance of continued close collaboration and coordination among localities as best practices, strategies, and funding opportunities emerge.

Resiliency of the electrical grid was a particular area of focus for both attendees and panelists, with weather and public safety events in recent years highlighting vulnerabilities in the nation’s energy network.

“Our utilities have warned people of the potential for rolling blackouts with extreme temperatures recently, [urging] people to cut back on their energy consumption. Although it was small in scope compared to what we see in other parts of the country, you have to consider what this means for EVs,” said Maryland Public Service Commissioner Odogwu Linton during the “Public Utility Commissioner: Electrifying Transportation” roundtable, advocating for increased collaboration between utilities and local jurisdictions. 

As federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is made available, many are hopeful that much needed infrastructure upgrades to improve resiliency and security of the nation’s electrical grid will become financially feasible.

Discussing electric vehicles growth in popularity and the expansion of charging stations across the region, panelists also affirmed the need to build equity within every aspect of the EV network.

“Look at the data and you’ll see our Black and Latino residents driving electric vehicles at a much lower rate than White residents,” panel moderator and Greater Washington Clean Cities Coalition Executive Director Antoine Thompson shared, drawing from a recent nationwide study, “It’s not for lack of interest, but a lack of resources.”

Location of charging stations and the presence of “charging deserts” in historically underserved communities, financial barriers, and education were all raised as considerations in building an equitable EV network.

“It is the role of local governments to build equity in every step of the process and to build trust with constituents,” said Andrea Crooms, Director of Prince George’s County’s Department of the Environment, explaining that “EV drivers shouldn’t have to have a million different smartphone apps to access the charging network” as one example of a barrier to greater accessibility.

COG’s Equity Emphasis Areas (EEAs) have become an essential tool to inform investment and growth in the region since their endorsement as a regional planning concept by the COG Board in 2021. As area jurisdictions look to ensure an equitable EV network, EEAs help reveal where gaps in resources may lie and where additional efforts may be required to ensure all residents can take advantage of an efficient and robust network.

Across sectors, area leaders agree that widespread adoption of electric vehicles is essential to achieve the region’s environmental sustainability goals, including COG’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of a 50 percent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030.

“We got the low-hanging fruit when we achieved our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Now, we look to the more challenging areas, which includes making EVs the standard across the region,” said Karantonis in his closing remarks.

The Regional Electric Vehicle Deployment Working Group and EV Clearinghouse will launch in early 2023.