Abstract:

This report evaluates the charging infrastructure needs for Seattle to reach its goal of having 30% of its vehicle stock be electric. It quantifies the number, type, and distribution of home, workplace, and public charging across Seattle and assesses several sociodemographic factors to inform more equitable deployment in the near term. The paper further shares examples of equitable EV infrastructure planning approaches and concludes with policy recommendations that cities can consider while planning and developing charging infrastructure strategies to meet their EV and equity goals simultaneously.  The study also performs a geospatial multicriteria equity analysis to inform infrastructure planning, in addition to the demand-based charger need forecast. City policies and programs can lower the EV charger deployment barriers and, when appropriate, fill the access gap and the market gap to prevent disparities from widening.