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In 2010, Virginia Clean Cities prepared “Virginia Get Ready: Initial Electric Vehicle Plan” for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This comprehensive study included standards, background information, policy consideration and more.

In 2013, Virginia Clean Cities prepared an Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan for the City of Richmond. Read the “Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative” report to learn more for possible application in your city.

EV charging stations for multi-unit dwellings (MuDs), such as condos or apartments, provide property owners with a unique way to help attract and retain residents. MuD residents face unique considerations when installing charging stations, ranging from parking and electrical service access to billing and legal concerns. The resources below provide best practices for installing charging stations or get started by downloading the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Guidelines for Multi-unit Dwellings(PDF).

• Charge at Home website
• PEV Charging Guide for Property Owners, Managers and Homeowner Associations (PDF)
• MuD How-to Guide for PEV readiness (PDF)
• Charging Infrastructure Development

Multi-Unit Dwelling Case Studies

Watch a video showing successes other communities and MuDs have had with EV charging.

• San Diego Prepares for Electric Vehicles in Multi-Unit Dwelling Communities

Learn about how MuDs across the country have successfully implemented EV charging for their residents using the case studies below.

• Multi-Unit Dwelling Procurement Case Study: Green Rock Apartments
• San Diego condominium invests in individual billing (PDF)

Outside of the home, work is where people spend the majority of their time with their cars parked. For an electric vehicle owner, this large time frame is a great opportunity to plug in and charge their car and increase their daily commuting range. This not only serves as a convenience and benefit to employees but having an electric vehicle charger can encourage car owners to make the switch to a plug-in electric vehicle. Employers who offer workplace charging can enjoy the following benefits:

• Corporate Leadership – Taking this step towards furthering the electric vehicle infrastructure through the adoption of advanced technology can demonstrate corporate leadership and innovation.
• Sustainability – Electric vehicle charging can help contribute to the LEED Certification of a building, reduce indirect emissions, and overall enhance corporate sustainability efforts.
• Employee Incentive – The installation of an electric vehicle charger can serve as a valuable employee benefit by reducing the cost of commuting and increasing driving range. This will also be likely to attract new employees.
• Public Image – Providing workplace charging can showcase  an organization’s support and leadership of sustainable technologies.

Evaluating and Planning for Workplace Charging

Determining if a workplace charging program is right for an organization often begins by gauging employee interest through a survey(PDF). The following resources can help employers understand how workplace charging may support their sustainability portfolio:

• Electricity Sources and Emissions – Explore how grid mix impacts the emission reduction benefits of PEV-commuting employees.
• Emission Reduction Benefits of Workplace Charging – Learn how workplace charging compares to other sustainable commuting options(PDF) in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from employees’ commutes, also known as Scope 3 emissions.
• Charging Station Credit for Green Building Certification – Evaluate how installing workplace charging can support certification by green building certification programs, including Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), Green Globes, ENERGY STAR for Buildings and Plants, and Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating Systems (STARS).

Employers should consult their utility, electrical contractor, charging equipment provider, and other stakeholders early in the process to identify and discuss potential challenges. For example, special consideration is needed when determining whether to offer charging at workplaces located in leased facilities.

Installing Workplace Charging

Charging equipment delivers electrical energy from an electricity source, such as the grid or supplemental solar panels, to a PEV. Level 1, Level 2, and direct-current (DC) fast charging each offer benefits and require different considerations for workplace charging:

• Level 1 stations are less expensive than Level 2 stations, but they charge vehicles at a slower rate and generally may only be used by one vehicle during the standard work day. See Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at the Workplace(PDF) for more information.
• Level 2 stations are the most commonly used at workplaces and are capable of charging more than one vehicle per day. It is often necessary for organizations to establish policies that encourage employees to share the stations and move their charged vehicles after a certain amount of time.
• DC fast charging may be used as part of a strategy to alleviate charging congestion or to allow employees to charge in a very short amount of time. Often, DC fast charging stations are the most expensive to install. Learn more in a SolarWorld case study

Employers seeking to procure charging infrastructure and offer workplace charging must also consider costs associated with equipment, installation, maintenance, and electricity. Costs Associated with Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment(PDF) provides information on the costs associated with purchasing, installing, and owning the equipment. Federal and state laws and incentives can provide discounts and incentives that lower workplace charging costs.

By evaluating goals and needs, employers can select the best workplace solution. Find available charging equipment options using Plug In America’s Get Equipped resource and consult DOE’s workplace charging Request for Proposal Guidance(PDF).

Managing Workplace Charging 

Organizations offering workplace charging can benefit from setting clear guidelines in the areas of administration, registration and liability, sharing, and pricing to help ensure a safe and successful workplace charging experience for all. Learn about how to manage workplace charging.

Engaging Employees

After employers have installed charging stations at a work site, they may wish to engage employees on how they can take advantage of this employee benefit. DOE’s PEV Outreach Resources for Your Employees(PDF) offers tips for educating employees about why and how they can take advantage of workplace charging. Ride-and-drive events may also be an effective way to introduce employees to PEVs and workplace charging.

Below are some examples of how organizations representing a variety of sectors have made workplace charging available to their employees:

• Local Businesses – Learn how three small companies—Hollywood Woodwork, MOM’s Organic Market, and Posty Cards—have successfully installed charging stations for their employees.
• University Campuses(PDF) – Learn how higher education institutions are promoting PEV adoption by faculty, staff, and students.
• Healthcare Facilities(PDF) – Learn how hospitals and other healthcare organizations are improving local air quality by promoting employee PEV adoption.
• Utilities Power Change(PDF) – Learn how New Jersey’s Public Service Electric and Gas Company, and Southern Company’s unit Georgia Power are launching workplace charging programs for their commercial customers.
• Federal Agencies(PDF) – Learn about considerations for implementing charging at federal workplaces, as well as examples of federal agencies that have done so.

Some Virginia cities are taking a proactive stance in improving air quality and ensuring good stewardship of city resources by taking action in the clean transportation revolution. The City of Roanoke, for example, is using electric vehicles in city operations and helping to highlight that usage by participating in a project called EV-WATTS (Electric Vehicles – Widescale Analysis for Tomorrow’s Transportation Solutions). 

The City already uses both hybrid and all-electric vehicles in its fleet. It is reportedly planning to expand its EV footprint in the near future. Additionally, the City has installed “Level 2” and “Level 3” (DC Fast Charging) chargers for public use in its downtown area.

Through EV-WATTS, the City will provide charging and usage data on its electric vehicle operations to the national project supervised by the U.S. Department of Energy. By providing this information, Roanoke is helping to showcase the use of EVs in Virginia and the need for additional resources to support them like further education, research and investment in infrastructure. The expanded use of cleaner transportation options reduces air pollution, contributes to the Commonwealth’s economy and saves money! Cheers to Roanoke for being proactive and helping to show us how it’s done!