California Assemblymember Kevin McCarty has introduced the Equitable EV Charging Act (AB 2427) aimed at expanding access to electric vehicle (EV) charging for multi-family housing residents by facilitating the deployment of curbside charging. The bill is motivated by the recognition that home charging is the most convenient and cost-effective way to support EV adoption, yet a significant number of Californians, especially those from lower-income and minority groups, lack access to at-home charging solutions.
The legislation is backed by FLO EV Charging and It’s Electric Inc, and mandates the California Energy Commission to evaluate the potential benefits of curbside charging for underserved communities. It also tasks the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development with creating permitting tools and best practices to aid local governments in the efficient deployment of such charging infrastructure. Local governments would be expected to consider these resources when establishing their own permitting requirements to support curbside charging development.
The bill’s proponents argue that using the public right-of-way for curbside charging can open up new opportunities for community access to EV charging. It’s Electric Inc highlights the importance of overcoming the cost and complexity of connecting chargers to the utility grid, noting their network avoids these barriers and provides scalable public charging that can generate revenue for communities. Both FLO and It’s Electric emphasize their commitment to expanding EV charging access and contributing to climate change mitigation through increased EV adoption.
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