SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that ensuring electric vehicle infrastructure is accessible to all types of electric vehicles is not a municipal affair, as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution, but is instead a matter of statewide concern.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that local entities not adopt ordinances that create unreasonable barriers to the use of electric vehicle infrastructure.
(c) It is the policy of the state to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicle infrastructure and to limit obstacles to its use.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to increase access to electric vehicle infrastructure in all California communities. Charging speed is a critical component of access and should be considered in public investment strategies related to electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
(a) A city, county, or city and county shall not restrict which types of electric vehicles, including, but not limited to, plug-in hybrid vehicles, may access an electric vehicle charging station approved for passenger vehicles that both is publicly accessible and the construction of which was funded, at least in part, by the state or through moneys collected from ratepayers.
(b) “Electric vehicle charging station” means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, as it reads on the effective date of this section, and that delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.
Section 25231 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:
(a) The commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall, as part of the development of the plan prepared pursuant to Section 44272.5 of the Health and Safety Code, assess whether charging station infrastructure is disproportionately deployed by population density, geographical area, or population income level, including low-, middle-, and high-income levels. This includes whether direct current fast charging stations are disproportionately distributed and whether access to these charging stations is disproportionately available. Upon making a finding that charging station infrastructure has been disproportionately deployed, the commission shall use moneys from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund, to the extent authorized by law, as well as other mechanisms, including incentives, to more proportionately deploy new charging station infrastructure, unless the commission makes a finding that the disproportionate deployment is reasonable and furthers state energy or environmental policy as articulated by the commission.
(b) For purposes of this section, “charging station” means the removable equipment that provides alternating or direct current to the battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, but does not include the supporting charging infrastructure, such as wiring, conduit, and electric panels.
Section 740.15 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:
(a) The commission shall consider, in an existing proceeding, all of the following:
(1) Facilitating the development of technologies that promote grid integration, including technologies that provide submetering capabilities to residential charging stations, if the commission determines that these technologies and submetering capabilities are in the best interests of ratepayers.
(2) Exploring policies that support the development of technologies and rate strategies that can reduce the effects of demand charges on electric vehicle drivers and fleets, and help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
(3) Adopting a tariff specific to heavy-duty electric vehicle fleets or electric trucks and buses that encourages the use of charging stations when there is excess grid capacity.
(b) For purposes of this section, “charging station” means the removable equipment that provides alternating or direct current to the battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, but does not include the supporting charging infrastructure, such as wiring, conduit, and electric panels.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
Bill text is the chaptered version from LegiScan (California Legislature); spacing is normalized. Code section text in a bill is the text that bill chaptered, not necessarily the law in effect today. Not legal advice.