San Diego proposal for 2000 more charging points

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG & E) has just submitted a proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission to install an additional 2,000 charging points for electric vehicles in condominium complexes, workplaces and apartments.

The proposal aims at meeting increasing demand as electric vehicle ownership rises. This means extending SDG&E’s Power Your Drive Program under which more than 3,000 EV chargers have already been installed at 255 locations. If the CPUC approves the proposal, the company would install charging points at around 200 different locations over a two-year period. The proposal targets those living in multi-unit housing who do not have access to vehicle charging.

“Our customers are telling us that they want to see more electric vehicle chargers where they live and work, and we’re enabling customers to save money by charging their vehicles at the right time — when renewable energy is high and demand on the grid is low,” said Estela de Llanos, vice president of clean transportation, sustainability and chief environmental officer at SDG&E.

According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the transportation sector is the largest contributor to all greenhouse gases in California, accounting for more than 40% of emissions. The state of California has set itself targets of reducing emissions by 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. In January last year, California set a goal to have 5 million EVs on the road by 2030 to reduce transportation-related emissions.

“By building more EV chargers, we are not just meeting customer demand and managing the grid more efficiently, we are also supporting state mandates to accelerate clean transportation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality,” explained de Llanos.

Much the same as in the initial pilot program, the proposed expansion would provide residents with charging points for little or no cost. The charging rates are structured in a way that incentivises customers to charge in the hours when the electricity supply is plentiful and energy prices are low.

sdgenews.com