By increasing access to charging, local governments can play a unique and powerful role in supporting the deployment of EVs in their community. With free expert technical assistance, Charging Smart supports communities in adopting procedures and practices that facilitate the growth of EVs. Furthermore, municipalities can secure cleaner air, support economic growth, and bring the mobility of the future to their residents’ doorsteps.
Action at the local level to increase access to charging stations is fundamental to EV expansion and accessibility. Charging Smart provides a roadmap for these actions so local governments don’t have to start from scratch.
Charging Smart also helps lower the cost of deploying EV charging infrastructure (also known as “EV supply equipment,” or EVSE for short). “Soft costs,” or non-hardware costs such as those associated with permitting, inspection, and interconnection, can unnecessarily drive up the overall cost of EVSE. By helping local governments streamline their policies to avoid unnecessary burdens, Charging Smart helps to reduce EVSE soft costs.
Charging Smart works with any local government in the U.S. The map above displays current designees.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Charging Smart offers free technical assistance to help local governments adopt policies, practices, and incentives that exemplify recognized best practices for enabling efficient EV charger expansion.
The actions to achieve designation (also referred to as “criteria”) include tasks such as reviewing zoning requirements for EV charging installation; coordinating with utilities to launch or expand EV charging incentive programs; and installing public EV charging. Local governments that achieve certain sets of criteria can earn Bronze, Silver, or Gold designations, garnering national recognition of their status as an EV-friendly community.
Each individual criterion is worth a certain number of points. To earn points for a given level of Charging Smart designation, participants must complete specific required criteria and then choose from among other optional criteria to reach the required point value. This combination standardizes core best practices, while also giving communities the flexibility to adopt measures that work best for them.
Yes! Local governments in any U.S. state or territory are eligible to participate.
Supporting electric vehicle adoption brings with it numerous benefits, including improved air quality, lower emissions, and reduced noise pollution, all of which improve human health and well being. It can also support transportation affordability, because electric vehicles are generally cheaper to operate than gas-powered vehicles, and the upfront costs of EVs are expected to drop below those of internal combustion engines in the coming years.
Yes! Charging Smart will work with regional organizations to implement the program in their region. Check out our new Regional Organization Pathway to learn more.
No. The Charging Smart program does not offer financial assistance to install chargers, upgrade infrastructure, etc. However, local applicants for funding programs often mention related designations such as SolSmart and Charging Smart in their applications.
The length of the Charging Smart designation process is dependent on a variety of factors. Generally it will take communities around 3-12 months to complete the designation process. If communities are actively updating their comprehensive plan, zoning ordinances, or have already completed relevant actions in the planning and regulation criteria categories, the designation process will likely take less time.
The Charging Smart program has secured funding through July 2027.
