Cities For Tomorrow: EV Charging for Municipalities

From city planners and engineers to municipal leaders and citizens, everyone has a vision of what cities will look like in a few years. Those visions are hopes; they are goals; they are, in some cases, imperatives. Largely, those goals and visions hinge upon our need to meet transportation demands, to deal with growing populations and limited land, and to consider sustainability.

Over the next 15 years, most major automobile manufacturers intend to phase out combustion engines. When it comes to the role of electric vehicles and our vision of a more sustainable future, municipalities are an increasingly integral part of the EV charging infrastructure that will help deliver the promises of that future. Municipalities have multiple opportunities to invest in EV infrastructure and make some significant sustainability improvements for both city and citizens. 

EV Charging Station Options for Municipalities

Most organizations have one of two options when it comes to implementing electric vehicles or EV solutions. Municipalities, however, have two options. And, when it comes to hitting municipal sustainability goals and decreasing the carbon footprint in a region, electrifying municipal fleets and providing public charging stations are both part of the solution. 

Municipal Fleets

Fleet electrification is the process by which municipalities convert city or regionally owned vehicles to EVs including buses as well as emergency and public works vehicles. Not only does fleet electrification help municipalities meet strategic goals related to sustainability and lowering CO2 emissions, but it can also lower costs and improve efficiency. Less maintenance for EVs means lower TCO for fleet vehicles and then budgets can be adjusted accordingly.

In fact, cities like New York and Columbus, Ohio are already realizing the benefits of electric fleet vehicles from sanitation vehicles to street sweepers. This year, in Detroit, the city introduced a full electric fleet for their parking enforcement division.

In short, what cities are learning and finding is that fleet electrification is a process and identifying where to start can be helpful. It needn’t start with buses or vehicles that require significant investment. Instead, identify vehicles that best match with the capabilities of EVs and play into their strengths such as vehicles that take shorter trips and often in stop and go conditions.

Public EV Charging Stations

In addition to converting municipal fleets to electric vehicles, implementing EV charging infrastructure across a city is not only a great way to support electric municipal fleets, but it’s a great way to attract and retain citizens while enticing visitors. EV charging stations can be an economic boon for downtown areas, especially those with active entertainment, retail, and dining districts.

Further, for many cities, parking revenue, via meters and tickets, is often one of the top revenue generating mechanisms for the city. When it comes to municipal EV charging stations, flexible business models, advertising opportunities, surge/demand pricing, and complete control over pricing structure means EV charging can also create a revenue stream for your city.

Benefits of EV Fleets and Public Charging Stations for Municipalities

EV charging stations and fleet electrification can be a smart move for a city. Not only are you saving money on maintenance, repairs, and volatile fossil fuel markets, but public charging stations can be a revenue generation tool as well. Thankfully, the benefits, even the financial ones, don’t stop there. 

It’s no secret that heavy traffic and idling vehicles (especially for deliveries) contribute to air pollution. Whether it’s commuters, normal transportation needs within a city, delivery or municipal trucks, many cities experience significant air quality deterioration due to our heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Nearly half of the US population lives in an area impacted by low air quality. That low air quality can weigh heavily upon citizens as well as the healthcare system with increased respiratory illnesses and other health concerns.

Reducing municipal reliance on vehicles with combustion engines while also facilitating that switch for residents and visitors can have a significant impact on the air quality and overall health or your city.

We’ve discussed in several of our blogs how EV charging makes a significant impression on consumers who are looking for retailers who share their values and growing concerns over climate change and sustainability. The same is true for residents and visitors. Nearly ¾ of the population is concerned about environmental issues and public EV charging stations are a great way to establish your city or town as a leader in the green movement.

Further, public charging stations suggest that a city sees itself not just as a leader but also as a partner in a citizen’s effort to reduce their carbon footprint as well. In fact, cities are being actively ranked on their EV friendliness as people consider personal and business relocation as well as retirement. Where does your city fall?

Similarly, EV fleets can leave the same impression on residents and visitors alike. 

3. Attract Citizens, Retailers, Businesses and Visitors

With EV adoption rates growing and expecting to grow exponentially over the next decade, being prepared for that shift is one of the smartest moves cities can make. The future is coming, will you be ready?

And, more important than being ready is the how that can help attract businesses, retailers, citizens, and visitors who’ve already made that shift. If a business commits to an electric fleet, cities prepared to help support those initiatives are vital. The same is true for residents and travelers.

Range anxiety is real, but that quickly dissipates if travelers know that they’re headed to an EV friendly city (more so if the EV charging stations they’ve chosen are reliable).

Further, retailers and businesses know that EV charging stations help attract higher end customers and encourage them to linger just a little bit longer at their destination. That means your downtown area and public EV charging stations can attract customers and encourage them to stay in a shopping district for the day, increasing their spend in your downtown. 

As mentioned above, the financial benefits of both fleet electrification and installing public EV charging stations come with financial savings as well as gains.

On the savings end, you get a lower TCO for fleet vehicles. EVs have lower maintenance costs and power costs are far more stable than fossil fuels. EVs have less wear and tear given their design and with fewer moving parts, don’t need repair nearly as often.

With a predictable cost for maintenance and power, you can be better prepared when it comes to budgeting. And, if you can start the process by replacing older vehicles, you can start saving and introducing EVs strategically.

And, when it comes to generating revenue, EV charging stations offer significant opportunities for revenue. With the right charging platform management system, like NovaCHARGE’s ChargeUP, you get complete control over pricing structures. Have a big event on a weekend, increase the rates. Worried about cars staying after fully charged? Increase charges for fully powered vehicles.

The app side of ChargeUP also provides advertising opportunities as yet another way for you to reach the local community and help your downtown businesses reach EV drivers.

As we move closer and closer to a future where electric vehicles are all that’s being manufactured and the demand for reliable charging grows, the only question that remains for most cities is will you grow with this future? Will you be prepared when the rEVolution arrives?

NovaCHARGE is here to help you and, as a turnkey solution, we’re prepared to help you with everything from site selection and power management to installation and oversight. Reach out to our team today and let’s get you, your team, your fleets, and your residents started on making a move toward a more sustainable future.