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 equitable growth of EVs. Furthermore, municipalities can secure cleaner air, support economic growth, and bring the mobility of the future to their residents’ doorsteps.
Accelerating
EV Deployment
Helping local governments set and achieve equitable and impactful electric vehicle (EV) readiness goals.
Our Partners
Our Communities
Charging Smart is in the process of expanding nationally, and is currently active in the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the regions of North Texas, Southern California, and northern Illinois. Get in touch with us to discuss involvement.
Why Charging Smart
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 drive up the overall cost of EV charging infrastructure. By helping local governments streamline their policies to avoid unnecessary burdens, Charging Smart helps to reduce EV charger soft costs.
“Everyone is very willing to help you out and to help you navigate the program.”
— Annie Pottoroff, St. Louis Park, Minnesota (Charging Smart participant)
How the Program Works
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 and equitable 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.
The criteria are organized across the following six categories:
- Planning
- The planning category encompasses actions local governments can take to establish a policy environment and community-wide vision supportive of electric vehicle adoption.
- Regulation
- Regulatory criteria entail updating planning and zoning documents, and building codes and streamlining related application and approval processes to enable seamless integration of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- Utility Engagement
- The utility engagement category focuses on building collaborative relationships between local governments and electric utilities to unlock programs, practices, and investments that accelerate EV adoption.
- Education and Incentives
- This category encompasses public education, outreach programs, and financial incentives that communities can provide to stimulate consumer awareness, understanding, and excitement for electric vehicles and charging equipment.
- Government Operations
- The government operations category focuses inwardly on actions local governments can take within their municipally-controlled assets and resources to lead by example in embracing transportation electrification.
- Shared Mobility
- This category encompasses accelerating electrification across modes of transportation serving the public, such as public transit fleets, school buses, rideshare services, car-sharing programs, shuttles, and paratransit.
Additionally, to encourage municipalities to take additional steps to promote electric vehicle adoption in an inclusive and accessible way, communities can earn additional points called EVs for All. These points are for activities that focus on serving disadvantaged populations. EVs for All points are available in all six criteria categories when efforts specifically address the target populations. For more information, view the Program Guide below.
Charging Smart Resources
FAQs
Yes! Charging Smart initially launched in the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, and Virginia, and the regions of North Texas, Southern California, and northern Illinois. We are now in the process of expanding nationally. If you are interested in participating, please get in touch via the form below.
Charging Smart is modeled after the SolSmart program, which offers support for local governments in adopting solar-friendly policies in accordance with their economic development and sustainability goals. Visit SolSmart.org to learn more.
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.
The Charging Smart Team is committed to transforming the transportation system in ways that positively benefit people, the environment, and the economy. That includes an emphasis on making sure that all Americans benefit from the transition to electric vehicles and have equal access to charging infrastructure. Equity is embedded throughout the Charging Smart program. To earn designation, communities must complete criteria within the EVs for All category, achieving specific metrics that grant historically underserved residents greater access to the benefits of EVs and charging infrastructure. Charging Smart is part of the Justice40 initiative, meaning that the program has a federal mandate to ensure that historically disadvantaged communities receive the benefits of this investment.