Learn about the Air District’s plug-in electric vehicle programs, the Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council, and funding resources for expanding electric vehicle use in the Bay Area.
Plug-in electric vehicles, or PEVs, are an emerging technology with tremendous potential for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. Widespread adoption of PEVs will require investment in these vehicles and in the installation of charging infrastructure throughout the Bay Area. A variety of incentives, including funding and other benefits, has been developed to help spur the transition to zero-emission PEVs in the Bay Area.
The Air District is currently focusing on enhancing outreach and developing incentive programs to provide funding assistance for the deployment of PEVs and the infrastructure that supports these vehicles. If you would like to receive notices about new incentive programs available at the Air District, please submit your contact information online using the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Mailing List Form.
For information on the Air District's current incentive programs, visit the Grants section of the web site.
Bay Area Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council
Created in 2011, the Bay Area Plug-in Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council (EV Coordinating Council) is a staff-level, peer-to-peer forum that provides an opportunity for participants to discuss PEV-related emerging trends and to share information about their experiences in implementing best practices that support accelerated PEV adoption within their communities. Participants convene approximately three times a year and represent organizations from PEV industries; state, regional, and local government agencies; research institutions; and nonprofits.
The EV Coordinating Council has been instrumental in guiding the development of the Bay Area PEV Readiness Plan, which was completed in December 2013. This plan contains strategies and guidance—from research, analysis, and public input—for local governments and other PEV stakeholders to implement in order to support the mass deployment of PEVs over the next 10 years.
EV Coordinating Council meetings cover the topics discussed in the PEV Readiness Plan, which include:
- best practices regarding PEV-friendly building codes
- permitting and inspection processes
- zoning, parking rules, and local ordinances
- funding opportunities and PEV charging station business models
- considerations for siting charging stations
- outreach
- strategies for minimizing grid utility impacts
If you would like to participate in or learn more about the Bay Area’s EV Coordinating Council, please provide your information via this online form. Interested parties will be contacted by Kearns & West, facilitators for the EV Council, regarding future meetings and availability of EV-related resources.
EV Coordinating Council participants looking to access meeting materials may login to the shared drive at www.Box.com.
Bay Area Electric Vehicle Demonstration Programs
City CarShare PEV Program
City CarShare, a car sharing organization, offers a fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles for rent. The Air District, along with other local partners, provided funding to increase the number of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles, or PHEVs, in City CarShare’s fleet. Under this program, 10 hybrid electric vehicles were converted to PHEVs and added to City CarShare’s fleet in San Francisco and Berkeley. More information about this program and best practice guidance is available in the Report on the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle CarShare Project(1 Mb PDF, 29 pgs).
EV Charging Station Demonstration White Paper (coming soon)
Electric Vehicle Resources
For more about electric vehicles, charging stations, and other information, please visit the EV Resource Center.