Portland City Council Votes to Require New Residential and Mixed-Use Buildings to be EV-ready

Last week, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Code Project, requiring new residential and mixed-use buildings with at least five units and onsite parking to have EV charging infrastructure, effective March 31, 2023. To comply, new buildings with six or fewer spaces will have to provide electric vehicle-ready infrastructure for 100% of those spaces, and new buildings with six or more parking spots will have to provide EV charging infrastructure for 50% of those spaces.

The project information page includes the following "key equity goals":

• Expanding EV access. Everyone, especially renters, low-income people, and communities of color, are able to use electric vehicles to access future jobs, education, and services.
• Inclusion in technology advances. As governments develop more aggressive clean fuel requirements and vehicle manufacturing companies phase out internal combustion engines, low-income people and communities of color are not left out of the future transportation system.
• Public health and air quality. Low-income people and communities of color are not disproportionately exposed to transportation-related air pollution due to both residential segregation and the siting of multi-dwelling housing near freeway air pollution sheds.
• Reduced household costs. Low-income people and communities of color benefit the most from EVs. The fuel and maintenance cost savings associated with EVs are more significant for low-income households compared to medium and higher-income households.

Read more at About the Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Code Project | Portland.gov