California’s EV charging initiative: Can the state actually achieve it?

Over the past two years, Blymyer has seen an increasing demand for our design and engineering services related to EV charging stations, most notably in California — which is leading the nation in promoting an aggressive EV charging agenda.

In 2020, the state became first in the nation to outlaw the sale of new gasoline-powered cars, a mandate issued in 2020 that will go into effect in 2035 and is estimated to add more than 15 million new plug-in electrical passenger vehicles.

As of 2023, there were nearly 94,000 public or shared private charging stations statewide, including over 10,000 DC fast charging stations (also referred to Level 3 chargers), which can recharge EV batteries to 80 percent capacity in under an hour. To accommodate the massive increase in EV-powered vehicles anticipated by 2035, the California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates that the state will need 2.11 million public and shared private stations—including 83,000 fast chargers.

What challenges need to be addressed?

The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy and Research (SIEPR), a Stanford University- affiliated think tank focused on important economic issues, has outlined some of the issues that could slow down the state’s EV initiative:

Permitting delays –
These not only slow down installation of projects but also result in higher costs for installers. Data collected in 2021 shows that permits in California took an average of 79 business days—30 percent longer and 20 percent costlier than in other states. The state legislature has recently taken steps to streamline the permitting process, with laws establishing standard requirements for all cities and counties in the state.

Limited grid capacity –
This is the most significant source of delay, especially when installing DC fast chargers, with time lapses ranging anywhere from a few months to several years for some large installations. Grid capacity delays are attributed to a number of factors, including staff capacity, the complex regulatory process involved in laying new transmission lines, utility service department delays and shortages of transformers needed for site upgrades.

Planning code issues –
Presently, charging stations are most often installed as an “accessory” on a site that has another primary use like retail shopping or a workplace. When standalone charging stations are proposed on sites where EV charging would be the primary use, similar to gas stations, a jurisdiction’s planning code may not specifically provide for this and planning departments often need to get involved, which can slow down the process.

Funding delays –
Although substantial funding is available for EV charging station construction, jurisdictions often have to deal with significant delays in grant decisions, or they may lack the staff available to apply for grant opportunities.

Initiatives to speed the momentum

SIEPR interviewed a number of experts in the EV charging industry, who offered suggestions on how to deal with the issues cited above. Several interviewees saw promise in developing an automated permitting tool, similar to Solar APP+. This app, which most California jurisdictions now use for residential solar energy systems, automatically checks data about a permit request against the electric code and building standards, and issues an instant permit approval if all the criteria are met.

Expanding grid capacity remains the biggest challenge, however, and addressing it is critical to widespread EV charging adoption. The Powering Up Californians Act (SB 410) passed by the State Legislature in 2023 should help speed up the process and increase transparency. To streamline the tracking of performance metrics, the CEC is developing an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project Tracker that will collect and publicly share data on the implementation of EV charging station projects, including permit turnaround times.

A key player in California’s EV charging initiative

Keeping up with the state’s aggressive EV push requires knowledge, experience and the flexibility to successfully navigate the challenges SIEPR has outlined, and Blymyer Engineers is currently working with car manufacturers and EV charging companies to successfully meet the growing demand for new charging infrastructure. “With more than 2,500 electric EV charging stalls deployed, Blymyer has become a go to partner for companies including Tesla and EVgo,” says Stas Gorbis, Blymyer Director of DG and EV. “Whatever the scope, from a few chargers to entire fleet stations, Blymyer has the resources and expertise to meet every EV challenge.”