Cities that have seen the most success with large-scale fleet transition programs have exhibited internal support at all levels, including from the mayor, sustainability and resiliency offices, and administration departments, including fleet and procurement. Cities are encouraged to work with all internal departments to cultivate support within the city leadership to ensure the fleet deployment is harmoniously implemented.
To help navigate potential barriers, including staff education, outreach, marketing support, and other essential elements of a fleet transition deployment, the Electrification Coalition (EC) released Electrifying Transportation in Municipalities, a policy toolkit for electric vehicle deployment. Download the toolkit.
In August 2022, the U.S. Access Board released new ADA charging design guidance for the first time since 2014. The release provides accessibility guidelines under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), and Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
These recommendations are to accommodate drivers with limited accessibility (mobility, sensory, auditory, etc.) as more EVs come online and as technology for charging equipment advances. Under these guidelines, fleet EV charging stations at facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal funds for charging organizations’ vehicles must be accessible. View the web page for Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
The EC released Accessible EVSE Guidelines, a memo with a summary of considerations that should be made regarding this guidance. Download the PDF.
Electric vehicle readiness ordinances serve to ensure that a municipality is prepared for the transition to EVs. These policies require a specified percentage of parking spaces to be equipped with electrical infrastructure that facilitates an easy transition to EV charging in the future. You can learn more about these policies from the Alternative Fuels Data Center, the Electrification Coalition, and the examples below:
EV-first policies can be adopted by municipalities to ensure EV procurement within the fleet. These policies outline requirements for departments to examine EV options for replacement vehicles and prioritize EVs over internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles when they fulfill operational needs.