Becoming Electric Vehicle Ready

Cities have tremendous influence over how and where infrastructure is built and serve as a critical and necessary partner in the transportation electrification market transformation. Great Plains Institute, which facilitates Drive Electric Minnesota, has identified five principles for what constitutes an electric vehicle (EV) ready city:  

1. Policy: Adopt policies and plans that support electrification of transportation and acknowledge EV benefits
2. Regulation: Implement development standards and regulations that enable public and private sector EV use
3. Administration: Create predicable, transparent, and well-documented administrative processes for installing EV charging infrastructure
4. Programs: Develop public programs to overcome market barriers to EV use and installation of charging equipment
5. Leadership: Demonstrate EV viability in public fleets, facilities, public transit, and alternative transportation modes

For more information about these EV principles, click here. By focusing on these principles, a city can prepare itself in all capacities to be ready for electric vehicles.  

The Great Plains Institute compiled a list of resources below to guide local governments on their quest to become EV-ready. Some resources serve as examples based on what other cities have done, while others are more comprehensive and can be used as a guide. If you have any questions on how to utilize these resources, please do not hesitate to email us.

Regulation Resources

Summary of Best Practices for Electric Vehicle Ordinances

Local governments can make a big impact in electrifying transportation through zoning ordinances. This summary guide, developed by the Great Plains Institute, is designed as a reference for local governments looking to develop EV zoning standards or development regulations. The examples are not intended to constitute recommendations, but rather to show the breadth of choices made by communities across the United States to integrate electric vehicle supply equipment into development regulation.

Download the Summary of Best Practices for Electric Vehicle Ordinances →

City of Golden Valley, MN’s Planned Unit Development Ordinance

One way that local governments can encourage transportation electrification for the private sector is by developing supportive planned unit development (PUD) ordinances. As an example, the City of Golden Valley requires that all applications for PUDs provide at least one amenity or combination of amenities that total five points (c.12). Applicants receive one point for including electric vehicle charging stations if the stations are installed in at least five percent of the required parking spaces.

Download the City of Golden Valley Planned Unit Development Ordinance →

Programs Resources

Electric Vehicle Charging Guidance

Looking to add one or more charging stations in a public place, to a fleet, or workplace, but unsure of where to start? This dynamic page is for you. It’s designed to provide guidance to local governments on types of charging stations, where to install it, and things to think about before installation.

View EV Charging Guidance Page →

Case Study: DC Fast Charger Collaboration along Minnesota’s North Shore

The draw of a popular tourist destination and an enterprising partnership created a win-win situation for electric vehicle drivers and Minnesota communities from the Twin Cities to the Canadian border. Learn how city-utility collaborations can make these projects feasible.

Download Minnesota’s North Shore Case Study→

Case Study: Red Wing DC Fast Charger

Businesses in the City of Red Wing, MN are a prime example of the forward-thinking needed to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicle infrastructure. Read about Red Wing’s experience and get some tips about how to implement something similar in your community.

Download Case Study→