Electrifying the transportation sector is no easy task. But, as with many innovations occurring in the power sector, California is leading the way.
The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved two rounds of pilot proposals to electrify transportation from the state’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs). These pilots will cost a combined $1.3 billion and go beyond Gov. Jerry Brown (D)’s plan to have 1.5 million zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2025.
The pilot projects would cover the gamut of possible ways to boost electric vehicle deployment including rate designs, smart charger buildout, public education efforts, and help utilities avoid upgrade costs aid Jim Lazer, senior advisor for the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). But these particular projects are not just focused on cars — they also focus on school and transit buses as well.
