Roadmap Outlines Strategy for Accelerating Deployment of EVs in Connecticut
Coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day which took place a few weeks ago, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued its Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut (EV Roadmap), a comprehensive strategy for achieving widespread deployment of electric vehicles in the state, and a key tool in the state’s effort to improve air quality for residents while also addressing the climate crisis.
According to the DEEP, there have been 5,213 Electric Vehicles registered in Connecticut. Electric Vehicles registered in zip codes near Madison include:
| Zip | EV Registrations |
|---|---|
| 06437 | 77 |
| 06443 | 39 |
| 06475 | 24 |
| 06413 | 15 |
| 06498 | 10 |
| 06417 | 8 |
| 06419 | 8 |
| 06412 | 7 |
| 06442 | 5 |
The top 10 towns in Connecticut for electric vehicle registrations are:
| Town | # Registrations |
| Greenwich | 328 |
| Westport | 227 |
| Stamford | 181 |
| New Canaan | 140 |
| Darien | 111 |
| Fairfield | 106 |
| Wilton | 93 |
| Ridgefield | 79 |
| Guilford | 77 |
| Weston | 75 |
The top 5 models for Connecticut Registrations of EV’s are:
| Model | # Registrations |
| Tesla | 1,218 |
| Chevrolet | 1,072 |
| Toyota | 1,016 |
| Ford | 733 |
| Nissan | 389 |
One of the focus areas of the EV Roadmap is scaling up electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) such as charging stations in order to encourage higher EV penetration rates. “Range anxiety,” or fear that an EV will run out of power before a destination is reached, will diminish as consumers become more confident in charging accessibility.
There are 376 publicly-accessible EV charging stations with a total of 966 charging connectors in the state, including 50 direct current fast charger (DCFC) locations with 212 charging connectors. A significant increase in workplace Level 2 charging connectors, public Level 2 charging connectors, and public DCFC connectors will be critical to supplement residential charging and meet future charging demands.
The EV Roadmap focuses in on several key areas, including the transitioning of public and private fleets and medium and heavy-duty vehicles to EVs; making the consumer charging experience more consistent; minimizing grid impacts through demand reduction measures; providing demand charge relief for charging station owners and EV fleet operators; exploring opportunities for pilot programs with local innovators in the EV field; working with the state and municipal governments to modify building codes and permitting requirements to support EV infrastructure deployment; and leveraging financial incentives, such as the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR), to help make EV purchase price less of a barrier to consumers.
In issuing the EV Roadmap, DEEP is mindful of the pervasive impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on communities both locally and around the world, the full scale and effects of which, though unknown at this time, are and will be significant. DEEP will continue to monitor the COVID crisis and consider its impact on the long-term goals outlined in the EV Roadmap.
Environmental stakeholders from around the state applauded the EV Roadmap’s release.
To view the EV Roadmap, visit: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/c6c6d525f7cdd1168525797d0047c5bf/f7ed4932eec438d0852585520001c81b/$FILE/EV%20Roadmap%20for%20Connecticut.pdf
