December 3, 2024
How Utilities Can Boost EV Adoption in Their Community: 10 Proven Strategies
7 Min. Read
Utilities have a key role to play in driving electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Aside from the large-scale ability to create cleaner communities through energy generation and distribution, utilities are also directly benefiting from the shift to electrified transportation and are able to help further incentivize the adoption of sustainable transportation and lifestyle practices for their communities.
For example, by encouraging EV drivers to charge at night by offering time-of-use (TOU) programs, utilities can offset energy demand at peak hours, further enhancing grid resilience and stability.
Proactively supporting EV adoption also involves investing in local energy production and other programs that help lower bills for all customers and create accessible opportunities to embrace electrification.
For utilities looking to become electrification partners, here are ten top strategies to boost EV adoption and offer valuable opportunities to foster growth and sustainability in your community.
1. Boost EV Adoption With Incentive Programs
In addition to federal incentives, many utilities are leveraging available state funding to offer rebates and discounts on buying and installing home EV chargers and other whole-home electrification technologies, with some even offering free residential EV charging assessments.
This not only helps with the upfront and long-term costs of installing a home EV charging station but also helps expand awareness about the importance of EV charging safety.
Offering rebates or grants for commercial and multifamily EV charging projects can make these programs more impactful across the community, driving broader adoption and creating more sustainable communities as a whole.
2. Building Reliable Public Charging Infrastructure
One of the strongest predictors of interest in EVs is the availability and reliability of public charging infrastructure.
Investing in the development of an affordable and convenient local network of free or affordable EV chargers can have a significant impact on EV adoption in your community and helps to dispel range anxiety fears for drivers without the ability to install home EV charging.
Keep in mind that simply installing public charging stations is not enough and that EV charging station maintenance is critical. Your community will rely on these charging stations and as such, they should be regularly serviced and routinely inspected by a licensed commercial EV charger installer to reduce downtime and ensure the chargers are operating efficiently and safely.
3. Offering Time-of-Use Rate (TOU) Programs
Many utilities are offering Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity rates to encourage consumers to shift their electricity consumption to specific time ranges when demand is low.
This can be specifically limited to EV charging as monitored through a separate meter or for all electricity use, and utilities across the country are already employing these options as a solution to help drive down high energy use and grid strain during peak demand times.
For utilities, these plans help stagger demand and support accurate projections of when EV owners are likely to charge, lessening the impact of EV charging on utilities.
Offering TOU rates can also significantly reduce the cost of EV charging at home even further, providing a strong incentive for drivers to go electric and strategically charge at home.
4. Educational Campaigns and Community Outreach
Educating your community about the various methods and technologies of electrification, as well as demonstrating the benefits of driving an EV can be a powerful strategy for generating interest in your community.
Digital strategies include awareness campaigns on social media and online tools to educate consumers about the electrification incentives available to them and a cost analysis of potential savings generated by adopting different sustainability and home electrification solutions.
You can also organize local events and workshops where people can test drive EVs and learn about EV adoption, charging options, and financial incentives.
This is also a great method to combat misinformation or concerns about safety, costs, reliability, and more.
5. Establishing Partnerships with Local Car Dealerships
One lucrative method to boost EV adoption is through a collaboration with local car dealerships to offer bundled incentives, such as discounts on EV purchases when combined with utility incentives for home charging.
Additionally, dealerships can be a great place to build educational and awareness campaigns on the benefits of EVs and the savings of charging at home.
These offers can be a strong argument for picking an EV over a gas-powered vehicle at the time of purchase, offering an additional benefit to dealerships looking to drive EV sales.
6. Grid Modernization Efforts
With much of the U.S.’s electric grid built decades ago with little to no improvements since then, it’s important to evaluate if your local grid is prepared to meet the growing demand for electricity driven by EV charging and the overall increasing reliance on electricity-fueled technology.
Now is the time to evaluate the grid’s capacity and invest in large-scale grid upgrades and smart technologies that will create more reliable infrastructure and boost consumer confidence in the transition to electric vehicles.
7. Fleet Electrification Support
From free fleet electrification assessments to bulk rate discounts, utilities can play a major role in supporting commercial electrification on a financial and logistical level.
Target audiences for utilities building fleet electrification support include businesses of all sizes, government agencies, public transit, and even school bus fleets. Fleet electrification can have a major impact on reducing emissions for the community, and deploying this strategy at scale can have a profound impact on boosting EV adoption.
Plus, investing in grid-scale infrastructure upgrades can facilitate access to commercial charging and create an EV-ready grid for local fleets across your area.
8. Building Pilot Programs for Vehicle-to-Grid Technology
As more EVs incorporate bidirectional charging capabilities, offering a pilot Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) utility program that allows EV owners to sell back unused energy to the grid through a net metering program can be an additional incentive to go electric.
Keep in mind that homeowners and businesses participating in this pilot will want clear incentives for selling excess electricity, but even if they opt to install battery storage to capture energy instead of sending it back to the grid, this still provides benefits in reducing grid strain.
9. Collaborating with Local Governments and Private Investors
Partnerships with local municipal governments have long been a catalyst for creating EV-friendly policies, with perks such as convenient parking options for electric vehicles, access to utility EV charging programs, and the development of EV-ready building codes all helping to usher in the era of electrification and boost EV adoption.
Engaging with local businesses can also be a valuable strategy. Research suggests that public-private partnerships play a critical role in fostering EV adoption and improving access to multifamily EV charging and workplace EV charging.
10. Partnering with Local Electricians
While access to public charging has a positive influence on EV ownership and helps relieve range anxiety, at-home charging remains the most convenient, and also often the most affordable, option for a majority of EV drivers.
By partnering with local electrical contractors, utilities can support safe installation practices, help local contractors obtain the necessary certifications, and provide consumers with the peace of mind that they’re getting a quality EV charger installation that meets the highest industry standards.
When partnering with local electrical contractors, it’s crucial to prioritize training and expertise. Using underqualified professionals for EV installations can be dangerous, leading to negative experiences for consumers, and potentially creating hesitancy regarding EV adoption.
How Qmerit is Working With Utilities to Support Access to EV Charging
Utilities are increasingly emerging as electrification leaders supporting EV adoption through incentives, strong local charging infrastructure, and other strategies.
One thing is certain: utilities need to create partnerships to boost EV adoption and connect with their communities.
Qmerit has already partnered with several utilities to support the development of programs that make safe and affordable at-home EV charger installations more accessible for everyone.
As the leading provider of electrification services for EV charging and other energy transition technologies such as battery storage and solar panel integrations in North America, Qmerit can be a valuable partner as you navigate this transition, and is recommended by automakers, EV charger manufacturers, utilities, businesses, and homeowners alike.
Our network of certified electricians has installed more EV chargers and other electrification technologies in the last decade than anyone else in the industry—more than 450,000 EV charging station installations, 37,000 battery storage installations, 81,000 solar panel system integrations, and 86,000 electrical panel upgrades in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada!
We have the knowledge and experience to help utilities support their electrification goals and customer needs, and with our electrification program for utilities, energy companies can accelerate the energy transition, unlock more funding, and deliver an optimal customer experience.
For more information on partnering with Qmerit or to see how we can support your initiatives in boosting EV adoption and driving customer electrification, contact us today!
