TITLE
Recommendation to request Sustainable City Commission to prepare a report and recommendations on the current status, and opportunities for expansion, of the Electric Vehicle infrastructure in the City of Long Beach, and report back to Council within 120 days.
DISCUSSION
Electric vehicles (EVs) that can be plugged into a charger are one way that motorists can decrease their carbon footprint, and reduce their gasoline expenses, and are becoming more popular throughout California. The City of Long Beach provides several EV charging stations throughout the City, including in some public garages and at the Airport, and requires them in certain qualified developments.
The City's current policy, effective since January 1,2014, is based on the 2013 Edition of the California Green Building Standards Code, and requires new one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses with attached parking garages be EV capable. It also requires new dwellings of 17 or more units dedicate at least 3% of total parking spaces as EV charging stations, and new nonresidential buildings include a certain percent of parking for EV's, depending on their size.
However, as more EVs are appearing on the roads, there is a need for the expansion of infrastructure. Some possible policy actions would include retrofitting existing public facilities, modifying the Title 18 Building Code to require more than 3% all parking spaces for EV charging stations, and various options for installation in public facilities.
The triennial update of the Building Code must be adopted by November 2016, to go into effect January 1,2017, and provides an opportunity for considering expansion of the EV infrastructure. In order to meet rising demand, and contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, the City should consider our options for offering more EV charging facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA