November 27, 2008

Mayors designate Bay Area as U. S. electric car capital

On Friday, Nov. 20, the mayors of San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland designated the Bay area as the electric car capital of the United States.

Mayors Chuck Reed, Gavin Newsom and Ron Dellums announced a nine-step policy to transform the Bay area into the country’s EV capital. At the same time, Better Place, a global electric transportation company, announced it would enter the U.S. market with California as its first state, beginning in the Bay area.

“The Bay area is on its way to becoming the electric vehicle capital of the U.S., transforming what Americans drive,” said Reed. “Through innovations like these, Silicon Valley and California will lead the nation out of the current recession.”

Commercial availability of electric cars is targeted to begin in 2012. Better Place estimates its network investment in the Bay area will total $1 billion when the system is fully deployed. The three mayors said they welcome the company’s announcement and anticipate many other EV companies will focus on the Bay area as a top-priority market.

“In these times it is critical that we identify solutions to address both our economic and environmental challenges,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, herself a Bay area resident. “Promoting the use of electric vehicles will help forward our nation’s goals to achieve energy independence, to protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to boost the economy by providing jobs in an emerging manufacturing sector.”

The three mayors also announced they will begin next month to work with the region’s cities, counties, regional governmental organizations and private sector partners to position the region’s economic and environmental future around electric transportation.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger noted, “California is already a world leader in fighting global warming and promoting renewable energy. This type of public-private partnership is exactly what I envisioned when we created the first-ever low-carbon fuel standard and when the state enacted the zero-emissions vehicle program. This partnership is proof that by working together, we can achieve our goals of creating a healthier place while boosting our economy at the same time.”

The nine points the mayors intend to advance starting next month include:

—Expedite permitting and installation of electric vehicle charging outlets at homes, businesses, parking lots and other buildings throughout the Bay area;

—Incentives for employers to install EV charging systems in their workplaces and provide similar incentives to parking facilities and other locations where EV charging stations can be installed;

—Harmonize local regulations and standards across the region that govern EV infrastructure to achieve regulatory consistency for EV companies as well as expanded range for EV consumers;

—Establish common government programs to promote the purchase of EVs;

—Link EV programs and infrastructure to regional transit and air quality programs;

—Establish programs for aggressive pooled-purchase orders for EVs in municipal, state government and private sector fleets and future commitment of purchasing preference for EVs;

—Expedite permitting and approval for facilities that provide extended-range driving capability for EVs in the region through battery exchange locations or fast charging;

—Identify and secure suitable standard 110-volt electric outlets for charging low voltage EVs in every government building in 2009; and

—Identify and roll out a plan for placement of 220-volt EV charging equipment throughout each city including city parking lots and curbside parking.

The mayors also said they want to work with other cities throughout the region as well as regional government organizations, such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Association of Bay Area Governments and many private sector partners including the members of the Bay Area Council and Silicon Valley Leadership Group.