Our research group received funding from the Statewide Transportation Research Program (STRP), funded by the State of California through the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1).
Workplace Charging Policies
Most Americans commute to work using personal vehicles, which remain parked in employer-provided spaces for extended periods during the day. As California progresses towards its zero-emission vehicle and clean electricity goals, it is imperative to encourage businesses to install charging infrastructure. This initiative aims to address non-residential electric vehicle (EV) charging demand and shift the state’s growing EV charging load to midday hours when solar power generation is at its peak.
However, businesses face a significant challenge in the form of demand charges—a fee for the highest 15-minute period of power in a month. This charge can constitute over half of a company’s monthly electricity bill. Consequently, employers may be hesitant to install workplace chargers, even if used as an amenity to lure workers back to in-person work, due to concerns that additional EV charging demand could coincide with peak building electricity consumption, potentially leading to substantially higher costs.
Innovative solutions, such as managed or bidirectional charging technologies, could address these concerns. However, employees’ acceptance of these technologies remains a critical factor. This research project aims to answer the following questions: Under what conditions will employees accept managed or bi-directional charging? How does acceptance of these technologies vary with program design? How can the economic benefits of managed workplace charging be equitably shared between employees and employers? How much bi-directional charging capacity is required for various workplace settings across California?