91视频

The city of Portland is considering code amendments that would create regulations and standards for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in accordance with the Electric Vehicle Ready Code Project recommended draft. Portland City Council will vote Feb. 8 whether to amend the city’s planning and zoning code.

Development of the EV Ready Code Project involved a year of engagement with bureaus, community organizations, utilities and others. It would require developments with five or more dwelling units, when including parking spaces, to provide EV-ready infrastructure for 100 percent of parking spaces when six or fewer spaces are provided, or 50 percent of parking spaces when more than six spaces are provided.

The proposal would clarify land use requirements and standards for installation of EV-ready infrastructure in new developments. These standards would provide guidance for voluntary EV infrastructure installations within existing parking areas.

Last year, the state of Oregon implemented a baseline requiring 20 percent of new commercial development parking spaces and 40 percent of new multifamily and mixed-use development parking spaces to include EV-ready infrastructure. Portland’s proposal would surpass that baseline, but that would be allowed by the state.

The proposed ordinance would be in accordance with other ordinances the city has adopted, as well as state mandates, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Chief Planner Patricia Diefenderfer stated during a City Council meeting on Jan. 25.

The cost estimate for an EV-ready space is $800 to $2,500, according to a BPS study.

The EV Ready Code Project addresses the needs of multifamily building residents who cannot easily install EV charging infrastructure at their home.

鈥淭here is a risk of leaving people of color and low-income individuals behind in the transition to electric vehicles,鈥� said Ingrid Fish, who works on transportation decarbonization policy for the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

The city is engaged in other efforts to support affordable and convenient access to EV charging in Portland, including the possibility of adding infrastructure in the public right-of-way. The Portland Bureau of Transportation will discuss that at a later council meeting.