Community says EV-parking proposal for multifamily dwellings 'too ambitious'

Participants of an Olympia-sponsored focus group are divided on the city’s goals to convert every home to have electric vehicle (EV) facilities.

During the city’s Planning Commission meeting yesterday, February 6, Olympia Senior Planner Joyce Phillips presented the focus group summary on the electric vehicle (EV) parking proposal.

The focus group was comprised of affordable housing developers and builders, business community members, and climate advocates who participated in the meetings between November 17 and November 22, 2022.

The study revealed that respondents of the study thought the city’s target was “too ambitious,” while others saw it as feasible, while another group was undecided on the goals’ attainability.

Participants

Phillips did not mention how many participated in the focus group meetings, but the attached report indicated:

• three respondents from affordable housing developer or provider groups;
• three from a community-based organization;
• one local business owner;
• ten industry professionals;
• two community members

Architects, engineers, realtors, and community members also attended the focus group meetings.

The EV-ready parking proposal is one of Olympia's measures to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2040. This climate goal was expressed in the city's Climate Inheritance Resolution signed by the city council in 2019.

"Over the coming years, I think you'll see a fair amount of work related to climate for buildings and land use and energy consumption and transportation-related things," she said.

In 2021, Phillips recounted, the state adopted new building codes. The state will require a minimum number of EV-capable parking, EV-ready parking, and EV-charging spaces or Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) for new developments. It will take effect in the summer. 

Quoting Climate Manager Dr. Pamela Braff, Phillips defined the three EV parking types:

• EV-capable is when the electrical panel capacity has been provided, and there is a conduit to the parking spaces.
• EV-ready has wiring through conduit with an outlet and terminal box.
• EVSE has a charger installed and available for people to use.

Single-family home

In Washington State, Phillips said, it will require that every single-family home has at least one EV-ready charger per home.

According to Phillips, the proposal in Olympia would be to meet the best practice of having 100% of homes have an EV-ready parking space.

"We found that most of [respondents] felt that 'just right,' some were unsure, and some said it was too ambitious," Phillips said, citing the focus group opinion on the single-family home EV-ready parking proposal.

She said respondents commented that all parking spaces should have EV-ready access and prefer the 'plug and play' type of connection. 

Multifamily

Phillips said the state is looking at having 10% of all spaces be EV-capable, 25% of the parking be EV-ready, and 10% have the charging equipment installed.

Phillips announced that Olympia proposes that 10% of parking spaces would have the charging infrastructure installed, and the rest, or 90% of total spaces, would be EV-ready.

"When we ran that by the participants, we found that there was more variability, probably because this is where our potential proposal varied most from what the state requires," said Phillips, who also serves as staff liaison for the Planning Commission.

She said nine participants felt this was "too ambitious"; seven felt it was "just right"; three said they were unsure and wanted additional information.

The participants suggested phasing in the new requirements by starting with some being EV-capable instead of requiring all to be EV-ready or EVSE installed.

"Requiring 90% EV-Ready is probably too much too quickly. Most existing vehicles are gas and will be for several more years. The proposal for 10% EVSE and 90% EV-Ready will cost a lot. [It] should be EV-capable instead. It's an investment now for a need that isn't there yet. Upsize the service pipe now but upgrade later to install the infrastructure/chargers," the summary quoted the participants' comments.

"Consider tying the number of spaces required in the categories to be tied to the number of units, not the number of stalls," another commented.

Non-residential

Phillips said non-residential include spaces for assembly, educational, and mercantile occupancies. It applies only to designated employee parking spaces.

The Washington State will require that 10% of total spaces be EV-capable, 10% EV-ready, and 10% EVSE installed. Olympia proposes the same thing.

"Most of the participants felt it was "just right," some felt it was a bit too ambitious, and others had some questions they were unsure," Phillips said.

Timeline

According to Phillips, no language code has been drafted yet, except for the electrical code provisions.

"We are running some of that by the building code staff," she said.

On March 6, the Planning Commission would get a briefing for the draft code language.

Phillips said the commission would hold a public hearing on March 20.

She hopes to have these code amendments adopted in June.

"In case the effective date is July, that would match up with the requirement that the state building code provisions will go into effect at the same time," Phillips concluded.