Road vehicles account for nearly half of Santa Barbara County’s greenhouse gas emissions, with zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) making up less than 2 percent of all vehicles on county roads.
However, the county’s sustainability department plans to change that. The draft ZEV plan aims to reduce emissions and accelerate the domestic electric vehicle bandwagon through new policies, infrastructure, programs and communication.
“In order to make zero-emission vehicles available and reliable, we need a strong ecosystem of charging infrastructure, education and incentives,” said Jeryl Francisco, a ZEV specialist and co-author of the plan.
For example, the plan includes identifying potential ZEV charging sites countywide, integrating chargers into public parking facilities and near multifamily residential housing, and increasing charging infrastructure requirements in new residential and nonresidential buildings.
But they are more than just passenger cars. The plan also takes into account commercial vehicles, transportation vehicles (such as trucks, buses, and government fleets), and mobility software and devices, such as car sharing and electric bikes — beyond declaring May as Bike to Work Month.
As of now, according to the plan, the county itself has more than 60 electric sedans and has 127 EV chargers installed at 13 locations. To support future electric vehicles purchased over the next two to four years, approximately 150 to 170 additional EV chargers will be needed at various locations throughout the county to support the charging of these vehicles.
The district is holding virtual workshops on Wednesday, May 22 to provide an overview of the plan to the community and give the public an opportunity to comment. Public public comments on the plan will be accepted until July 7, 2024.
Of course, there is a bigger picture. The draft ZEV plan goes hand-in-hand with the county’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce community-level emissions by 50 percent by 2030 (below 2018 levels), and statewide goals to increase the number of ZEVs on the road and stop their sale. All new gas-powered vehicles by 2045.
“This plan will create a road map for the county to reduce congestion, enhance mobility and promote sustainability,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Steve Lavagnino.
Read the plan here.
Virtual workshops
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
12:30-1:30 p.m
Link to meeting No. 1: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82153987686
6-7 pm
Link to meeting No. 2: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81404363169
Spanish translation will be available at the workshops. Registration and information for all events can be found at Transport| Santa Barbara County, California – official website (civicplus.prs).
