Using Mapping Tools to Prioritize EV Charger Benefits to Underserved Communities
*Utah Clean Cities was a selected reviewer for this report
Report by Argonne National Laboratory – Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division
May 2022
A new Argonne report describes the important role mapping tools play in incorporating equity goals in planning, implementation, and evaluation of investments in EV chargers such as the NEVI Program. The report, “Using Mapping Tools to Prioritize Electric Vehicle Charger Benefits to Underserved Communities,” was authored by Argonne and Margaret Smith, DOE-VTO. Building on the Justice40 Initiative, the report has examples of how to apply mapping tools to identify priority locations for installing EV chargers with the best potential to benefit energy and environmental justice underserved communities.
“Mapping tools can play an important role in incorporating equity into planning, implementing, and evaluating investments in electric vehicle (EV)
charging stations, also referred to as EV chargers or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Federal, state, and local organizations need methodologies for using mapping tools as they pursue equity-focused goals to ensure that the benefits of investments in EV chargers flow to energy and environmental justice (EEJ) underserved communities. This report provides examples of how to apply mapping tools to identify priority locations for installing EV chargers that may benefit EEJ underserved communities through four EV charger planning approaches: corridor charging, community charging, fleet electrification, and diversity in STEM and workforce development”
In this report, we explore four EV charger planning approaches: corridor charging, community charging, fleet electrification, and diversity in STEM and workforce development. We document these approaches to prioritizing EV charging station benefits to EEJ underserved communities using mapping tools developed through robust stakeholder engagement with industry leaders.
The objectives used in the four approaches intersect and can be customized to meet specific energy and environmental justice goals. Approach objectives include:
- Build a nationwide network of FHWA-designated EV corridors;
- Accelerate equitable adoption of EVs, including for those who cannot reliably charge at home;
- Implement the Justice40 goal that 40% of overall benefits of Federal investment in EV charging flow to DACs;
- Identify priority census tracts for DCFC placement within 1 mile of EV corridors that benefit nearby EEJ underserved communities;
- Identify priority census tracts for community EV charging (Level 2 and/or DCFC) that benefit nearby EEJ underserved communities;
- Decarbonize the transportation sector including fleet vehicles that operate in EEJ underserved communities;
- Increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs through EV charger placement; and
- Increase workforce development opportunities for EEJ underserved communities through EV charger placement.