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The Planning and Sustainability Commission continued to discuss the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability鈥檚 Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Code Project proposal on Tuesday. It would require all new multi-dwelling and mixed-use developments with five or more units 鈥� and on-site parking 鈥� to provide EV-ready charging infrastructure. The commission will continue the discussion at a work session on Oct. 11.

BPS is requesting the commission recommend to Portland City Council that it adopt the proposal.

In 2017, the City Council directed BPS staff to explore EV parking and charging infrastructure requirements in new multifamily and commercial developments that include parking. Then in November 2019, BPS was directed to scope city code updates that address changing mobility needs, including mobility hubs and EV charging stations.

In 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2180, which required an update of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code. The new rules require that 20 percent of parking spaces in newly constructed, privately owned commercial buildings, as well as multi-dwelling and mixed-use buildings with five or more residential units, provide electrical conduit and options for service to support EV charging.

EV-ready requirements include conduit and designated space within the building or a designated location on the property for current or future electrical service capacity to support at least a Level 2 EV charger.

The EV Ready Code Project would bring Portland into alignment with state regulations, co-project manager Ingrid Fish said.

Used EVs are becoming increasingly available in the marketplace, and many states are committing to phaseouts of gas-powered vehicle sales, Fish added. EVs are cheaper to own than are gas vehicles, due to less fuel and maintenance costs, according to a 2018 study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

鈥淟ow-income Portlanders can really benefit from owning an EV rather than an older gas vehicle; however, it鈥檚 unrealistic to use an EV without convenient and affordable access to EV charging,鈥� Fish said.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development has developed a climate-friendly and equitable communities rulemaking process, co-project manager Phil Nameny said. That will increase the required percentage of EV-ready parking spaces to 40 percent. That EV standard will take effect in March 2023.

The BPS has amended its proposal to require that EV-ready infrastructure be provided for at least 50 percent of parking spaces, and 100 percent of parking spaces when six or fewer spaces are provided. Another amendment adds development standards.

鈥淭hese standards would limit the impact of the infrastructure on the surface parking lot landscaping areas,鈥� Nameny said.

Those areas are intended to shade the parking lots as well as provide stormwater benefits and visual screening.

The EV chargers could be placed in interior landscaped areas if the lot still meets interior landscaping standards for 45 square feet per parking space, Nameny added. BPS does not propose that chargers be placed in the perimeter landscaped areas.

Expectations are that most EV chargers would be placed in existing parking lots; however, there may be charging islands in the future.

Portland has until March 31, 2023, to adopt necessary changes into the zoning code. Cities that do not meet the deadline must apply the state requirements directly.

Testimony at Tuesday鈥檚 meeting was in support of the proposal, with recommendations to add e-bikes and similar vehicles to the draft and remove the restriction that no EV equipment be installed in landscaped areas.