Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Permitting

• Publication date: March 2013
• Report size: 14 pages

The deployment of publicly available electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is critical to the successful and sustainable adoption of electric vehicles. Thousands of EVSE units have been installed across the United States, thanks in large part to government initiatives, retailers, utilities, parking companies, employers, and hotels. This mix of entities will continue driving future EVSE installations that are necessary to create a ubiquitous an...

The deployment of publicly available electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is critical to the successful and sustainable adoption of electric vehicles. Thousands of EVSE units have been installed across the United States, thanks in large part to government initiatives, retailers, utilities, parking companies, employers, and hotels. This mix of entities will continue driving future EVSE installations that are necessary to create a ubiquitous and reliable EV charging network. Pike Research forecasts that 2.5 million EVSE units will be sold in the United States from 2012 to 2020.

Prospective EVSE operators must comply with a labyrinth of rules and regulations that can require permits for one or more state or local agencies. Depending on the location, the process may require the assistance of electrical contractors and local inspectors and can take several days to complete. An attempt at obtaining permits for EVSE in a location that is viewed by the property owner as too costly or time consuming could prevent future purchases of EVSE and inhibit industry growth. These permitting processes will need to be simplified, made easier to comply with, and standardized across jurisdictions if the expected goals for vehicle electrification are to be met.

This research brief outlines the current initiatives to streamline EVSE permitting across all 50 states and highlights the policies adopted by the most advanced states. The study also details the requirements that EVSE manufacturers and installers must meet to successfully permit these facilities and outlines recommendations that equipment manufacturers and EV advocates should encourage regulating agencies and legislators to adopt in order to enable, rather than discourage, the installation of EV charging equipment.

Key Questions Addressed:

What are states doing to simplify EVSE permitting?
Which parties play a role in completing an EVSE installation?
Which states and localities have standardized the permitting of EVSE?
What codes and regulations must be followed to obtain a permit?
What best practices should states adopt to encourage EV adoption?

Who needs this report?

EVSE manufacturers
Automotive manufacturers
Property owners and managers
Electrical contractors and EVSE installers
State and local government agencies
Utilities

Clean Vehicle Industry in the United States

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
1.1 Introduction
2. Market Update
2.1 Typical EVSE Options
2.2 EVSE Permitting
2.2.1 Residential versus Public-Use Permitting
2.3 Building and Zoning Code Issues and Permitting Templates
2.4 Coordination with the Local Utility
2.5 Federal Programs
2.6 Regional Permitting Guidelines
3. Conclusions and Recommendations
4. References

List of Tables

• EV Supply Equipment Unit Sales by State, United States: 2012-2020
• Clean Cities-Funded Projects in Top EV States
• Statewide Permitting Status for EVSE