Expanding access to electric vehicle charging stations
King County has installed 36 new, 220-volt (Level 2) electric vehicle charging stations at multiple locations. Currently, new Level 2 stations at located at the Issaquah Highlands Park-and-Ride(12), the new Burien Transit Center Park-and-Ride garage (10), King Street Center (8), Metro’s Van Distribution Center (3), Goat Hill Parking Garage (3).
The county has received more than $1 million for this effort from U.S. Department of Energy grants. Sources include a grant to the Clean Cities Coalition (a project of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. These awards, along with investments by other local jurisdictions, represent the largest public investment in electric vehicle infrastructure in our region to date.
King County and its partners have engaged in the following efforts to support the development of electric vehicle infrastructure:
Modeling travel behaviors of electric vehicle (EV) users
Based on assumptions about the travel of EV users and existing modeling data from the Puget Sound Regional Council, the county and its partners will identify where potential EV owners live and where they are likely to go (and park) for two or more hours.
Electric Vehicle Model Ordinance and Guidance
A Guide for Local Governments in Washington State is a tool to assist local governments in meeting the purpose and requirements of Washington’s new electric vehicle infrastructure law. PSRC, working with the state Department of Commerce, is required to develop model ordinances, regulations and guidance for local governments related to electric vehicle infrastructure and batteries. This included working with a technical advisory committee made up of a broad spectrum of interests groups and agencies.
Electric vehicle purchases
As part of King County’s effort to continue as a leader in using new, clean technologies in the transportation sector, the county has purchased 25 all-electric Nissan Leafs. The King County Metro Transit’s new Metropool program, an extension of our existing Vanpool and Vanshare programs, will be integrated 20 of the Nissan Leafs into their fleet. The other five Nissan Leafs were purchased by King County’s Fleet Administration to enter into the County employee's Motorpool Program for use in county operations.
Future “sustainable transportation hubs”
Future and existing transit-oriented developments provide an opportunity to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by integrating new conservation and energy efficiency technology with land-use and transportation planning. King County is planning to develop hubs that provide frequent, regional, multi-destination public transportation service; technology to support public use of plug-in electric vehicles; and other programs to support vehicle-sharing.
Past efforts to support electric vehicles
Over the past few years, Metro Transit has installed 110-volt plugs that can be used to charge electric vehicles at selected park-and-rides. This effort has benefited individuals who drive the earlier generation of battery-electric vehicles and are likely to be dependent on vehicle recharging stations at park-and-ride lots. Five park-and-rides currently have plug-in outlets:
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