On Friday, December 13, 2019, governors from eight western states – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Regional Electric Vehicle Plan for the West (“REV West Plan”) to provide a framework for creating an Intermountain West EV Corridor that will make it possible to drive an electric vehicle across major transportation corridors in the west.
As part of this regional planning effort, the REV West states have developed Minimum Voluntary Standards for the deployment of DC fast-charging stations along the Intermountain West EV Corridor. It will be up to each state to apply these standards as they see fit. A copy of the Minimum Voluntary Standards document is attached.
The standards listed in the document were developed to promote build out of DC fast-charging stations along the Intermountain West EV Corridor that are convenient, reliable, and safe for EV drivers. While these standards are voluntary, they represent minimum best practices, and their use will help ensure a consistent and consumer-friendly experience. Across the Intermountain West, conditions may exist at some potential locations that limit application of all minimum standards or lack the amenities found in more populated areas. For instance, some locations may lack adequate electrical capacity to install a DC fast-charging station. Where this is the case, states are encouraged to provide or promote the development of charging options that still meet as many of the minimum standards as possible. Stretch standards are included in italics. The Voluntary Minimum Standards Working Group will update these standards as needed.
CWPMA will be monitoring both Colorado and Wyoming where agencies roll out how they intend to develop their obligations toward the REV West Plan. Colorado has grant programs in place to assist interested convenience stores in installing EV charging stations- In Spring 2018, the Colorado Energy Office launched the Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast-Charging Corridors infrastructure grant program. This program directly addresses Action #1 in the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan: Build out Colorado’s EV fast-charging infrastructure through public-private partnerships and in coordination with other programs.
In November 2018, Gov. Hickenlooper and Colorado Energy Office awarded a $10.33 million grant to ChargePoint to build electric vehicle fast-charging stations across the state. The fast-charging stations will be located in communities at 33 sites across six corridors comprised of Interstate, State and U.S. Highways - see map above. Once complete, these stations will allow Coloradans to drive anywhere in the state in an electric vehicle. This grant also helps implement Colorado's Beneficiary Mitigation Plan and the State’s commitment to the multi-state Regional Electric Vehicle West Memorandum of Understanding.
If you have questions about the EV Fast-Charging Corridors grant program, please contact Program Manager Zach Owens at zachary.owens@state.co.us.