Electrified Transportation in California

Aiming to accelerate acceptance and use of electric vehicles (EVs) on a statewide basis, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved 15 pilot projects through which to "catalyze" electrification of not just personal-use EVs, but also buses and trucks. The commission described the projects as the first of their kind, with four sponsored by PG&E, five by Southern California Edison Company (SCE), and six by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E). 

The commission related that the proposed programs had been devised in compliance with a 2016 PUC order which charged the three utilities with developing new EV plans that would speed up adoption of EV technology throughout the entire motor vehicle transportation sector. That is, the commission had told the three companies that they must expand their focus from light-duty passenger EVs to other types of vehicles, including both medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses and other forms of transit, and freight movement. 

As to the specific projects authorized, the four listed for PG&E encompass 

1. a fleet demonstration pilot for medium- and heavy-duty trucks; 
2. an electric school bus renewables integration program; 
3. an idle reduction technology trial; and 
4. a home EV charger information resource offering. 

The five components approved for SCE entail the following: 

1. a residential make-ready rebate initiative; 
2. an urban direct current fast charge cluster program; 
3. an electric transit bus make-ready project; 
4. a rubber tire gantry crane electrification offering; and 
5. a yard tractor project for the Port of Long Beach. 

However, a sixth proposal, for an EV rideshare incentive plan, was denied by the commission as unlikely to spur further deployment of EVs within the transportation network company industry. As to the six projects the commission endorsed for SDG&E, they include 

1. port electrification offerings; 
2. airport ground support equipment; 
3. local highway electrification; 
4. fleet delivery services; 
5. green shuttle priority review; and 
6. dealership incentives for sales of EVs. 

On a combined basis, the three utilities said they their investments in the approved EV pilots will come to approximately $41 million. In addition, though, a further $1.645 million has been set aside to fund postproject evaluation and verification. Re San Diego Gas & Electric Co. et al., Decision 18-01-024, Applications 17-01-020 et al., Jan. 11, 2018 (Cal.P.U.C.).