City of Davis, CA
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Electric Vehicles and EV Charging
The City of Davis is committed to attaining carbon neutrality by 2040, as envisioned in the 2020-2040 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (in progress). Transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions comprise 74% (on-road) and 79% total of all GHG in Davis, as per the most recent GHG Inventory. Reducing fossil fuels, as in switching from combustion engine vehicles to electrified transportation, is a significant factor in attaining carbon neutrality.
One City effort is implementation of the Electrify Yolo funding provided by a Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Green Region Grant. The City is the lead agency in this approximately $3 million regional effort to implement electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Yolo County. Additional projects are currently being developed, and funding is being sought, including a regional Zero-Emission Vehicle Master Plan.
In December of 2018, the City of Davis was awarded $2,912,000 in grant funding for implementing Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Level 2, 3 and mobile chargers) and purchasing an electric transport vehicle capable of transporting eight or more people. This ‘Electrify Yolo’ project was the result of a successful grant application submitted to Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) by a joint ‘Green Region’ grant application from Valley Clean Energy (VCE) and the City of Davis, representing four regional partner agencies: The City of Davis, Yolo County, the City of Woodland and VCE on behalf of City of Winters. The City of Davis is the lead agency for Electrify Yolo and has Memoranda of Understanding with each partner.
The Green Region grant was a one-time funding opportunity from SACOG using federal funding sources. The program was aimed at reducing vehicle emissions and moving the Sacramento region toward a zero-emission future through three goals. The first goal: bring existing and new partners together to work on our cleaner region’s transportation by concentrating resources on specific projects. The second goal: showcase our region’s ability to come together and create a zero-emission system that the state will take interest in helping to fund. The third goal: work with existing efforts at SACOG and around the region to create an equitable approach to meeting our air quality and GHG goals. The Electrify Yolo project was one of four funded projects of those submitted and was the only project to receive 100% of the submitted grant request. See Green Region Grant Awards.
The City of Davis’ Electrify Yolo share is approximately $2 million of the total grant award, with the remaining $1 million being implemented by the other partners, as per the Electrify Yolo agreement. All funds for the entire project were defederalized through a Fund Exchange Agreement (FEA) between SACOG and Davis. Davis is responsible for providing annual progress reports to SACOG on behalf of all partners and is required to expend all funds by December 31, 2023.
This Phase 1 effort for implementing EV charging infrastructure and equipment purchases, based on the identified Green Region ‘Electrify Yolo’ goals for funding, is intended to benefit Davis residents, build internal capacity for Davis as a destination and improve multi-modal hub development in the Davis downtown. This is being accomplished through the suite of elements funded by this grant, including charging infrastructure in the downtown, and purchase of mobile chargers and electric vehicle(s). The SACOG agreement stipulation of “downtown area” EV infrastructure is because the Green Region funding purpose specifically anticipated EV charging infrastructure co-benefits, which include encouraging increased multi-modality and economic development. Locating chargers downtown provides the opportunity to encourage walking, biking (with the new bike/scooter share program) and connection to transit, as well as supporting use of downtown businesses and services such as restaurants and stores.
As part of the City’s planning associated with the grant award, City Council reviewed and approved the EV Charging Phase 1 Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultant services on July 7, 2020. On June 1, 2021, the City Council of the City of Davis authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a consultant contract with Frontier Energy, Inc. for the design of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Phase 1 project. Their scope includes: 1) developing a planning framework for EV charging infrastructure in Davis; and 2) identifying Phase 1 site locations and developing construction documents, permitting and environmental review to complete installation to comply with the commitments in the FEA with SACOG in advance of the December 2023 deadline.
Phase 1 of the Davis project is dedicated to meeting the requirements established in the FEA, which includes:
- Installation of Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers,
- Purchase of a fleet electric vehicle, and
- Purchase of at least two (2) mobile solar EV chargers.
Key Phase 1 considerations for siting the two mobile chargers and other selected Level 2 and Level 3 (DC Fast) EV charger locations are:
- Visibility to people who live, work, and visit Davis to encourage them to switch to an EV.
- Potential for expansion to other forms of electric or active transportation.
- Replacing existing chargers which do not allow for fee collection, with “smart” chargers so that the City can collect fees to offset energy use and maintenance costs.
- Minimizing construction time and costs associated with upgrading or adding electrical panels, replacing underground conduit, and increasing the electrical service from PG&E.
Level 2 and Level 3 EV Charging Station Infrastructure and Locations
On June 28, 2022, the Phase 1 Final Report was presented to City Council and the City Council approved the Phase 1 Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging site locations (excluding the mobile solar EV chargers), which were developed through an iterative site recommendation process that included community input, data analysis, utility data, and site inspections.
1. City Hall Parking Lot
2. 4th & G St Garage
3. E Street Parking Lot
4. Amtrak Parking Lot
5. Olive Drive Parking Lot
6. Central Park
During the design process, it was determined that the 4th and G Street Garage is no longer needed as the owners of the Garage are already working on getting this done with their own vendor, ChargePoint. The location that has replaced the 4th and G Street Garage is going to be on C Street in front of the Hattie Weber Museum, adjacent to Central Park. Below is the list of proposed locations currently in design for the Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations.
The City of Davis was required to purchase a minimum of two (2) mobile solar EV charging stations as part of the FEA.
Following the June 2022 Council meeting, staff worked with Frontier Energy, Inc. to determine the type of solar mobile charging stations that are available and potential locations for the charging stations. During the fall of 2022, Frontier Energy completed research and analysis and confirmed that there are only two vendors available that provide the technology for the portable solar mobile charging stations, PairedPower and Beam (formerly called Arc). Beam doesn’t fit the parameters of the grant. PairedPower is the only vendor that meets the requirements for a solar powered charging station that is portable.
The City of Davis committed to purchasing a minimum of two (2) mobile solar EV charging stations as part of the FEA.
Following investigation of several potential locations, staff is recommending locating one mobile charger in the public parking lot at 616 1st Street at this time. This location provides a central downtown Davis site, close to businesses as well as Interstate 80. The site does not require grading or other modifications to install the charger, however minimal costs ($5,000) are anticipated for staff labor, equipment and materials to be used to prepare the site, seal the asphalt, and add striping for visibility and accessibility.
The second charger would be placed at a second site still under review, but it may potentially be Playfields Park parking lot. A staff report on the recommended location and options considered will be included on consent at relevant Commissions.
Phase 1
Spring 2023
- Award of Paired Power PairTree Solar Mobile Chargers
- Design for Phase 1 Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations
- Complete Fleet Electrification Plan
Summer 2023
- Target delivery and installation of two PairTree units
- Advertise, bid and award Phase 1 Level 2 and 3 charging stations
- Purchase of Fleet Electric Vehicle
Winter 2023
- Complete Phase 1
Winter/Spring 2024
- Start Phase 2 outreach and design
On November 29, 2021, the preliminary Phase 1 EV infrastructure report was presented to the NRC, with the purpose of reviewing recommended site locations and chargers included in Phase 1 and having an initial discussion of future Phase 2 goals (to be developed later and not included in current recommendations) for EV planning, infrastructure and adoption. Recommendations from the NRC, BTSSC and public comments were noted and responses were incorporated into the Phase 1 Final Report and presentation at the April 25, 2022, NRC meeting.
On April 25, 2022, discussion from the NRC, BTSSC and public comment focused on understanding that the current infrastructure planning and site locations (Phase 1) are in response to commitments in the FEA with SACOG. Future EV infrastructure planning will incorporate community input to determine site locations (Phase 2). The consultant and staff noted that Phase 1 site location identification is intended to benefit Davis residents, address regional transportation corridor needs, and improve multi-modal capacity, as per the Green Region grant funding and SACOG parameters. Following discussion, no summary motion with recommendations to City Council was made by the NRC at this meeting. Specific comments for future implementation included supporting the importance of locating chargers at multi-family/rental housing locations, considering vehicle to grid implications, and addressing concerns about site locations and costs for future EV infrastructure implementation, such as recommending additional Level 2 chargers at the proposed Olive Drive location.
June 17, 2020 Utilities Commission
November 29, 2021 - Natural Resources Commission
April 25, 2022 - Natural Resources Commission
City Council Staff Reports
Project Director: Dianna Jensen, Director Public Works Engineering and Transportation (PWET) / City Engineer, DJensen@cityofdavis.org
Project Manager: Melissa Marshall, Senior Civil Engineer, mmarshall@cityofdavis.org
Project Lead: Alexis Eastwood, Public Work Utilities and Operations (PWUO) AEastwood@cityofdavis.org
Sustainability Lead: Kerry Loux, Sustainability Coordinator KLoux@cityofdavis.org