New Funding Opportunity
Charge Vermont launched July 6, 2023. The program provides incentives for installing EV charging that will increase Vermonters’ access to charging at workplaces, multiunit homes, and community attractions. For more information visit the program's website (https://www.vermontevchargers.com/).
Investments in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
Since 2014, the State of Vermont has invested over $3.5M in public EV charging stations in all 14 counties across the state including 41 fast charging stations and 89 Level 2 charging stations. Recent investments to bolster the EVSE network has positioned Vermont as #1 in the nation for the number of EV charging stations per capita, with 114 public charging stations per 100,000 people. Electric cars are spreading across the state and are now in 92% of Vermont communities. The State will continue investments in public charging stations as well as investments in home and workplace charging to ensure EV drivers have a reliable place to charge their vehicles. Visit our interactive map of State funded EVSE sites.
You can help: fill out our survey!
With the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, the State of Vermont is working proactively to find more locations for charging stations. In partnership with Drive Electric Vermont, the State is seeking to identify property and business owners interested in supporting plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging or providing services associated with the installation and management of charging.
Those interested in partnering with the State can fill out a survey at https://arcg.is/DDeDT [arcg.is] to offer their collaboration. The survey will help identify opportunities for potential charging locations or EV charging services. Survey responses will be shared to facilitate potential partnering discussions between property owners/managers, charging service providers, and installation contractors.
Overview of EVSE Investments
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) started the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) grant program in 2014 with funding from the Department of Environmental Conservation, investing $200,000 on 15 projects in designated downtowns and village centers. Since that time the number of registered EVs in Vermont has risen from 943 in July 2015 to 4,360 in January 2021 or a 362% increase, signaling the need for a more robust EVSE network in the state.
In 2017, Volkswagen’s settlement agreement provided Vermont $2.8 million in funding to expand its network of electric vehicle charging stations. The program is administered by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development in coordination with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the Agency of Transportation, the Public Service Department, and the Department of Health. Grant proceeds result from settlements to partially resolve Volkswagen’s violations of the Clean Air Act.
In 2019, the EVSE grant program received 141 applications in two grant rounds, requesting over $4M in funding. Thirty projects were awarded over $1M in funding to install seventy-five Level 2 and five DC fast charge stations located in state designated centers, highway corridors, public park and rides, major attractions and institutions, multi-family housing and workplaces.
In 2020, $1.7 million in VW funding was awarded to Blink Charging to support the installation of DC fast charge stations and level 2 stations at 11 priority locations on highway corridors helping to fill out geographic gaps in the EVSE network in Enosburg, Fair Haven, Johnson, Ludlow, Newport, Randolph, Rutland, Springfield, South Hero, St Johnsbury, and Wilmington. Installation began in 2022 and is ongoing.
In 2020, the legislature appropriated $750,000 in funding to continue building out the network of DC fast charge stations for remaining gaps and redundancies in high use areas on highway corridors. In 2021, Norwich Technologies was selected through a competitive bid process to install stations at six priority locations in Alburgh, Bradford, Brighton, Hardwick, Vergennes and Waterbury. Planning and installation are ongoing.
In 2021, the legislature appropriated $1,000,000 in funding to pilot a program to incentivize the installation of charging stations at multi-unit dwelling affordable housing units, making EV home charging access more equitable and affordable for residents in multiunit housing.
The Multiunit Dwelling Electric Vehicle Charging grant program recently awarded 13 project proposals from affordable and non-profit multiunit housing providers across 8 counties. These projects will result in 84 new Level 2 charging ports at 37 locations, reducing the home charging access barrier to EV ownership for 6,230 homes in affordable multifamily buildings.
Annual Report:
Drive Electric Vermont
Information on electric vehicle incentives and charging options is available at www.driveelectricvt.com.
EVSE-friendly Development Regulations for Municipalities:
To support the EVSE Grant Program, meeting-ready guidance is available for planners and planning commissioners to help prepare and update local regulations that welcome electric vehicle charging stations. The guidance provides an overview of the latest EV trends in Vermont and offers tips to update use, parking, sign, performance, and procedural standards that easily accommodate this new technology in local bylaws.