EV Charging for All Coalition : NATIONAL
Building Codes for Equitable, universal EV Charging Infrastructure
The EV Charging for All Coalition (EVCAC) works with state-based organizations throughout the US to advocate for EV Readiness building codes — because affordable, convenient EV charging should be available to everyone.
Our Guiding Principles
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Maximize equitable, affordable access to “EV Ready” (plug-and-play*) charging at home and at work;
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Minimize cost and complexity for residents, builders and property managers.
Where Do We Work?
Why Infrastructure?
Why New Construction?
Why Building Codes?
Why Focus on Multi-Family Housing (MFH) and Workplace Charging?
Watch our informative video to learn more.
Key to Equitable Access
Residents of Multi-Family Housing (MFH) face numerous, often insurmountable challenges in accessing EV charging infrastructure at home. They are more likely to be lower income, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color) and/or members of historically polluted communities. As such, they stand to benefit the most from the financial, environmental and health benefits of plug-in driving.
The cheapest, safest, and most convenient place to charge an EV is at home – and the workplace is the next best location. Home and work are the ‘long dwell time’ places where cars tend to sit parked for many hours at a time.
Since light-duty cars in the US are driven an average of only 39 miles/day, inexpensive low-level charging is more than sufficient for the vast majority of home and workplace charging. Lower-level charging is cheaper to install, cheaper to the end user, and easier on the grid. EVCAC advocates for low-cost, ‘plug-and-play’ charging to expand affordable access for all residents.
The 4 Principles of Equity-Centered MFH Code
1. Provide each household unit that has parking with at least one EV Ready space
This is a more equitable and affordable approach than requiring charging at an arbitrary percentage of parking spaces.
2. Require at least Low-Power Level 2 & receptacles, not necessarily EVSE
This meets most drivers' daily charging needs while minimizing costs to builders.
3. Wire the receptacle/EVSE directly to corresponding unit's panel or meter
This protects residents against unregulated third-party monopoly fees and relieves property managers from the hassles of billing management.
4. Install prominent signage at each EV Ready or EV Capable space
This communicates to residents that these spaces are pre-wired for charging, increasing EV adoption and property value.
Download Our Bookmark
A convenient way to share the 4 Equity Principles with others
A Guide for Adopting Equitable US Code
Around the country, more states are taking a look at transitioning to clean transportation and building up the necessary infrastructure to enable EV charging for all. Ready to take action? We developed the EV Building Codes toolkit as a stepwise resource — so you can help advance more equitable building codes to support affordable, accessible EV charging.
Get the Toolkit
By the Numbers
1.5M - number of new housing units built in the US every year
3-12x - cost increase of installing EV infrastructure later as a retrofit
16 - number of states with EV building codes
Contact Us
About Us
Our Leadership Team:
Dennis Corelis, Dwight MacCurdy, Guy Hall, Linda Hutchins-Knowles, Marc Geller, Michelle Pierce, Sven Thesen, Wendy Chou, and Zack Wurtz
The EV Charging for All Coalition includes the Union of Concerned Scientists, GreenLatinos, Sierra Club California, the Electric Vehicle Association, and Interfaith Power & Light, among others. You can see the full list of individual and organizational supporters here. Our latest coalition letter regarding EV charging equity in the CALGreen building code can be found here.
EVCAC In the News
- Homes Need to Electrify. New building codes will make that harder, Canary Media
- Preparing San Jose for a future full of electric vehicles, San Jose Spotlight
- How California is Keeping EVs Out of Reach for Apartment-Dwellers, Huffington Post
- San Francisco Charges Ahead With Comprehensive EV Adoption Plan, Aiming for Citywide Charging Accessibility, Hoodline
- Charging the Future: The Role of Retail in our EV Transition, Consumer Reports
- Help Us Make EV Charging Accessible to All, Acterra blog
- California Must Ensure EV Charging Access for All, CalMatters Op-Ed by Sen. Ben Allen and Asm. Mia Bonta
EVCAC Publications and Technical Guidance
- Narrowing the Divide: Addressing Inequities in California’s EV Infrastructure, Harvard Progressive Policy Review
- Letter from EV Charging For All Coalition to CA Governor Gavin Newsom (Sept 2022)
- Comments to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Docket #2023-0054-0001 (April 2024)
- Economic and Environmental Analysis of the CALGreen 2022 Mandatory Residential Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Code (Sept. 2021)
Our Webinar Recordings and Slide Decks
- Video recording: Lunch and Learn with the EVCAC (March 2023)
- Video recording: Expanding Access to Affordable At-Home Charging - EVCAC presentation to partnering non-profits (Feb 2024)
- Video recording: Creating Better EV Building Codes: What You Need to Know
- Slide deck: Model EV Building Codes Toolkit
EV Charging Equity Resources
- A Battle Over Building Codes May Be The Most Important Climate Fight You’ve Never Heard Of, Huffington Post
- How to Charge Your Electric Car at Home, Consumer Reports
- EVs Offer Big Savings Over Traditional Gas-Powered Cars, Consumer Reports
- EV Charging Deserts Leave Black Communities Unconnected, Washington Post
- Electric vehicles and charging dead zones in California: Why owning an EV isn’t easy for everyone, KCRA TV
Looking for a deeper dive into Acterra's work in California? Click here.
Terminology Note
* EV Ready redefined. To ensure equitable EV charging access, “EV Ready” should be defined as ‘plug-and-play’: an EV parking space with a receptacle or EVSE, connected via a dedicated branch circuit to a panel with capacity for EV charging. “EV Ready” is distinct from “EV Capable,” which requires panel capacity, a dedicated circuit and raceway, but no way (yet) for someone to plug in and charge. While “EV Capable” is appropriate for new single family housing, it is not an equitable solution for multi-family housing.