As EV adoption increases, so does the need to charge them. We spoke with Tiya Gordon, co-founder of It’s Electric, to learn more about curbside charging and how it is an equitable solution towards promoting sustainable transportation through EVs. For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/curbside-charging-increases-ev-accessibility-with-tiya-gordon/
The Rise in EV Adoption
The US electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to reach a revenue of $95.9 billion this year, with a projected annual growth rate of 12.61% over the course of the next four years. By 2035, California and twelve other states are planning to achieve 100% zero-emission new vehicle sales, calling upon local governments to assist in the EV transition to ensure equitable access to this new technology. For homeowners who have the ability to power up in their own garage, making the transition to EVs is relatively easy; however, for renters and those living in larger metropolitan areas, access to charging infrastructure remains a significant challenge. Although EV adoption is on the rise, urban areas are under constraint as they do not have sufficient charging infrastructure to keep up with heightening demand. High building density, limited capacity of the electricity grid, and insufficient funding and staffing are posing challenges for city governments across the country. Brooklyn-based startup, It’s Electric, is working on one possible solution to this problem through the installation of curbside charging, powered from buildings on the adjacent property rather than directly from the utility grid.
Building EV Charging Accessibility
Curbside charging works by minimizing the distance consumers need to travel to fuel their EV, thereby increasing accessibility of charging infrastructure. Many dense-urban areas have been referred to as “charging deserts,” due to their lack of accessible EV charging infrastructure, making the transition in these areas particularly challenging. Instead of the mainstream route in which charging infrastructure is developed through utility connections (which can be a 12 to 18 month process), startups like It’s Electric partner with property owners, acquire the relevant permits, and install and maintain a charger powered by the building’s electrical supply. Property owners can thus use untapped electricity supplies, allowing for installation without extensive infrastructure development or direct connections, providing property owners with passive revenue. Instead of working directly with electric utilities to install their chargers, It’s Electric partners with municipalities and building owners directly. Further, the parking space will be maintained by the city, so the property owner doesn’t need to worry about managing and maintaining the parking spot.
Benefits of Curbside Charging
Curbside charging provides immense promise for city governments in transitioning towards more equitable access of EV charging infrastructure. For lower-income communities – particularly those without access to private driveways, garages, or who reside in multifamily housing – publicly accessible EV charging can help reduce barriers to participation in the ongoing shift to electric vehicles. As curbside charging is still in the beginning stages of development, policymakers can incorporate community members in decision-making. Thus, EV charging can be largely community-driven, incorporating opinions from local residents to make the transition fit the needs of the community. In dense urban areas, curbside charging can assist in reducing pollution and GHG emissions, particularly in high-emissions neighborhoods. Other strategies to keep in mind include providing discounts and cost reduction measures for lower income drivers as well as strategies like car share, mobility hubs, and colocation with other transportation services to improve accessibility.
Drawbacks
Without addressing lower-income communities and those living in rental properties, EV charging can exacerbate current socioeconomic disparities and push marginalized communities out of the growing market. Thus, in tackling this transition, focus must be placed on targeted communities that lack the necessary resources to successfully adopt EVs. It’s Electric has noted that there is more demand than they can meet right now, which represents the urgent call for this transition to occur. It’s Electric is currently integrating Level 2 chargers into city infrastructure, rather than the faster direct current (DC) chargers that can power one’s vehicle in 15-30 minutes. Because DC chargers take up significant amounts of space, require more infrastructure to develop, and utilize more electricity, it is not yet feasible to implement these in urban areas. Unfortunately, that leads to slower charging times and potentially limits an area’s charging capacity. Another drawback of curbside charging in large cities can be attributed to limited sidewalk space and thus heightened demand for the few available units. Amidst these potential challenges, It’s Electric has successfully resolved problems such as grid capacity and design by providing affordable, easy to install, and compact charging stations. By working collectively with policymakers, urban planners, transportation specialists, and community members, companies like It’s Electric have begun to make curbside charging a reality.
Who is Tiya Gordon?
Tiya Gordon, co-founder of It’s Electric, is transforming the way we approach EV charging by reimagining how publicly accessible chargers are integrated into public spaces. Tiya holds 20 years experience in design, leadership, and operations across a range of disciplines for some of the country’s top firms and institutions. She is now venturing to spend the next 20 years building companies that use design to wage war against the Climate Crisis.
For a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/curbside-charging-increases-ev-accessibility-with-tiya-gordon/
Ethan: I’m Ethan Elkind, and you’re listening to Climate Break. Climate solutions in a hurry. Today’s proposal: curbside electric vehicle charging stations to make it easier for people in cities to charge their EVs. We spoke with Tiya Gordon, co-founder of the charging company It’s Electric about the need.
Gordon: It's really easy to own an EV if you have a garage, and you can drive home at the end of the day and pull into that garage and plug in. But if you live in a city where you do not have that amenity, it really not only creates a very challenging condition, but it slows down the adoption of electric vehicles.
Ethan: It’s Electric’s goal is to make charging electric vehicles more accessible to people who park on the street.
Gordon: Our solution is a very sleek and small bollard that sits on the curb. It's a curbside charger. But the secret sauce that makes us so unique here in the United States is that that charger is not powered by a direct utility connection. We power the charger from the building that's sitting right next to it.
Ethan: These curbside chargers bring economic benefits to the building owners who agree to have them installed on their curb.
Gordon: Most buildings across the United States have what's known as spare electrical capacity. So we can harness that spare power, run a small conduit below the sidewalk, power a public charger, and that building never sees their bill go up, cause we separately meter. We then share 20% of what we earn with the building that hosts that charger.
Ethan: It’s Electric focuses on installing in neighborhoods that have a high demand for EV chargers.
Gordon: We run what's called a community-requested charging program. So we only put chargers in where people ask for them.
Ethan: To learn more about It’s Electric and EV charging in urban areas, check out ClimateBreak.org.