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January, 2010
The City of Denver is beginning to budget level 1 charge points across the city. Many of these will be existing outlets, so the city is developing signage that will make these areas highly visible to the public. As demand increases and these charge points are used with greater frequency, the city will consider upgrading to Level 2 outlets and charging station.
Updates – 10/16/09
Infrastructure Permitting:
The City and County of Denver has developed a plan to allow quick turnaround for private individuals or businesses to obtain permits to install vehicle charging stations. Denver’s permitting and inspection officials have provided feedback and assurances regarding vehicle-charging technologies: a permit for a level 2 home charging unit should be easily obtainable though a simple, 15-30 minute walkthrough review, and they anticipate being able to provide next-day inspections.
Colorado Plug-In Vehicle Working Group:
A core working group of state, local and regional entities was recently formed to pursue the implementation of advanced plug-in, electric drive vehicles. This group was formed to address and overcome the barriers associated with operating electric vehicles in the region and is committed to working toward the goal of having large numbers of advanced technology, clean plug-in vehicles operating in the region. Current members of this core working group include:
Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition:
In addition to the core working group described above, the Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition is continuing to expand its role as the primary forum for regional collaboration on plug-in vehicle implementation. At the October Coalition meeting local plug-in vehicle technology companies gave introductory presentations of their products and services, and a Plug-in Vehicle Open House event is being planned for November to provide local fleet managers a hands-on opportunity to learn the details about currently-available and up-coming technologies.
Denver Long-range Planning:
The City and County of Denver has also formed an internal, cross-agency work team to develop long-range goals and strategies for plug-in vehicle implementation, both for the City fleet as well as for the broader Denver community as a whole.
U.S.-China EcoPartnership:
The City and County of Denver is continuing to explore potential electric-vehicle implementation opportunities in Denver with Chang-an Motors through the US-China EcoPartnership program.
Outreach to the Business Community:
In 2010 Denver will be launching an effort to work more closely with local business districts and merchant associations on implementing sustainable transportation options, with a focus on promoting plug-in vehicle and infrastructure opportunities. Businesses will be encouraged to adopt plug-in technology for their fleet vehicles as well as to provide public charging infrastructure to their customers. Promotions will include information about technology options and available incentives, such as the Colorado tax credits available for purchasing plug-in vehicles and conversions (up to $6,000), and for constructing charging infrastructure.
A total of 12 communities and more than two dozen governmental and private business partners have joined Denver in a proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy called Funding Electric Vehicle Expansion in the Rockies or FEVER.
Project Get Ready Team Denver Summary:
The City of County of Denver has made a commitment to support the implementation of plug-in vehicle technology in Denver and throughout the region. Denver has begun working with an array of other local and state-wide partners to identify opportunities to accelerate the integration of plug-in vehicles as well as developing regional vehicle charging infrastructure. Working with the Denver Metro Clean Cities Coalition, almost 100 locations have already been identified as high-priority sites for vehicle charging infrastructure by the following local-government entities:
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This effort has been enthusiastically supported by Xcel Energy, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, EEtrex, Burt Automotive, .the Colorado chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Denver Electric Vehicle Council. In addition to these partners, Denver is beginning the process of identifying and engaging with the full range of local stakeholders to develop a 5-year action plan to catalyze plug-in vehicle expansion in Colorado.
Denver is also participating in a U.S.-China “Eco Partnership” sponsored by U.S. Department of the Treasury. The partnership includes the City and County of Denver, Ford Motor Company, the City of Chongqing, and Chang’an Motors. Focused on the implementation of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, this partnership has, according to the Treasury, “the potential to significantly advance the global development of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.”
President Obama has set a target of 1 million PHEV on the road in America by 2015. Based on the local vehicle market and projected vehicle implementation trajectories required to reach the President’s goal, it is estimated that Denver Metro Area should strive to have approximately 7,000 plug-in vehicles on the road by 2013. Supporting this goal is consistent with Denver’s ongoing commitment to addressing environmental challenges though innovation, leadership, and community action.
For more information on Denver’s Project Get Ready efforts, please contact:
Matthew Marshall
City and County of Denver
720-913-1516
Matthew.marshall@denvergov.org
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