Sourcing Renewables  -  May 28, 2020

Columbus surpasses Ohio EV adoption target

Residents of Columbus, Ohio, surpassed the state’s EV adoption goals created in 2016 and were found to have purchased 3,323 electric vehicles over the past three years as a result of the state’s efforts to encourage EV adoption through large employers and providing free charging.

Electric vehicles now account for 1.8% of the cars sold in the Columbus-area, up from 0.4% in 2016, Utility Dive reported. The city first set its EV adoption goals in 2016 after receiving a $10 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and winning $40 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation Smart City Challenge.

Smart Columbus teamed up with a collection of large employers in the region to help influence the local workforce to adopt EVs and encourage the installation of chargers at business properties. This initiative included working with 70 “Acceleration Partners,” a list that includes names such as AT&T Ohio, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, IBMiX, JPMorgan Chase and Nationwide.

According to Utility Dive, almost 12,000 EV test drives have occurred as a result of this program and 50 local executives have agreed to personally drive EVs.

The city also implemented a program to work with original equipment manufacturers and local “electrified dealers” to increase the models available to consumers.

Columbus has become a leader in the region for its work to become a “green” city. Following its successes in environmental goals since receiving the USDOT grant, Smart Columbus launched a “digital capstone” site that is meant to help other mid-sized cities replicate their success.