How EV Chargers Help Make Cities More Equitable and Resilient
photo: Paul 92
The recent passage of legislation has opened a unique window to recover from decades of inequality.
The US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides $1.5 trillion in infrastructure funding, covering everything from lead pipe replacement to environmental remediation.This Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) earmarked $60 billion for environmental justice. Each project contains ambitious goals aimed at addressing systemic inequalities, but whether, how and when these goals will be achieved remains to be determined.
Cities are one of the worst environments of injustice. Decades of redlining and racist policies have left many Black, brown, Indigenous and other marginalized communities living in dangerous environments that are severely impacted by climate change. For example, the Mott Haven community in the South Bronx has underinvested in infrastructure and air quality control for decades. Today, Mott Haven has some of the worst air pollution levels in the country and an unusually high rate of asthma. It’s nicknamed “asthma alley. “
Urban communities are also plagued by transit deserts.Without readily available public transportation options, communities Barred from access to education, employment and health opportunities, with compounded insidious effects over time.Research shows significant racial access gaps in cities; BIPOC communities have Decreased ability to find work Promptly by public transport.
To achieve the bill’s goals and truly “build back better,” we need to focus on the systemic underinvestment that has plagued marginalized urban communities for centuries. I believe EVs can be an important piece of the puzzle, complementing the expansion of public transit networks—especially if chargers are distributed fairly.
Personal electric vehicles can go where public transportation cannot. Electrification purifies local air and protects health. Electric vehicles (EVs) save on fuel and maintenance costs, ultimately putting money back in the pockets of owners and entire communities. While the upfront cost of electric vehicles is prohibitively high for most people, recent legislation will speed up affordability.IRA Expand credits For the purchase of new electric vehicles and to establish a new line of credit for used electric vehicles. This is an important step towards widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Another big step forward: Jobs Act allocates $7.5 billion to build electric vehicle charging network to cope with range anxiety. If deployed properly, this infrastructure can bring the benefits of electric vehicles to all.
The question becomes, what is correct Prioritizing equitable and resilient infrastructure investment?
The roadside charging project is an exciting first step. 60 charging stations installed in New York City across its administrative districts. The stations are accessible, cheaper than private charging options, and public. Still, stand-alone charging stations require extensive licensing and construction, making them expensive and time-consuming.As such, the Department of Transportation is currently exploring other innovative roadside charging options through its point studio. One of the solutions has already been deployed in Europe.
London has launched a pilot project to convert 1,000 lamp posts into chargers.Due to its widespread success, there are goals to expand the program to 50,000 lamp post charging stations Nationwide by 2025. Retrofitting existing infrastructure saves communities money, time and public space.
Whether done through stand-alone stations or retrofits, charging networks should be ubiquitous and smart. Distributed public charging can solve the problems of traffic deserts, local air pollution and expensive charging costs. New smart technologies can allow the web to better serve communities.
For one, the software in the charging station allows you to park for a longer period of time, the cheaper your electricity bill will be. Managed charging integration, where software actively controls load and charging speed, reduces power demand by prioritizing off-peak times.One Brooklyn Manages Charging Program Demonstrated a 45% reduction in power requirements, significantly reducing costs while ensuring reliability. Managed charging can also incentivize renewable energy generation and clean the air by shifting demand from peak hours to times when it is generated by cleaner, cheaper energy sources. It can provide communities with a safer grid, more money in their pockets, and cleaner air to breathe.
Plus, new technology could allow your parked car to save your community during a power outage. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allows electric vehicle batteries to send power back to the grid through bidirectional charging.as Marginalized communities are most at risk For climate disasters, a distributed network of V2G chargers can turn local vehicles into backup generators, providing a community safety net during times of crisis.
Like managed charging, V2G can also provide financial incentives for vehicle drivers. Drivers can earn income by feeding energy back into the grid during expensive peak hours and only pull electricity at low-cost times.In Colorado, a Bidirectional Charger Project Allows the city of Boulder to save $270 a month when charging its fleet, roughly equivalent to the monthly rental cost of a popular electric vehicle. Ultimately, access to parking fees could ease the cost burden of owning an electric vehicle and make it affordable for all communities.
This is just the beginning. Smart charging stations could one day come to the rescue with an emergency call button. They can educate people with air quality data. They can empower the community they call home. This is not a sci-fi dream; these resilient and fair technologies exist today.
Building back better should not be limited to the COVID pandemic or the recent climate disaster. The Jobs Act and the IRA must address decades of underinvestment in the frontline communities that need it most.
These decisions cannot be made in silos; front-line community members must be at the heart of the process to understand which solutions fit their unique needs. Without community engagement, we risk perpetuating the inequalities that exist today.
Ultimately, by prioritizing equity and resilience in decision-making today, we can realize the true potential of this landmark legislation and build a better world for all.
Luke Mairo is an alumnus of Columbia University’s Master of Sustainability Management program and co-founder and COO of Voltpost.
