HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2505-4670CITY OF PALO ALTO
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Friday, June 13, 2025
Agenda Item
3.Recommendation to City Council to Accept the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap; CEQA Status -
Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, Projects Consistent with an Existing General or
Comprehensive Plan do not Require Additional CEQA Review Staff Presentation
Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Public Works
Meeting Date: June 13, 2025
Report #:2505-4670
TITLE
Recommendation to City Council to Accept the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap; CEQA Status -
Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, Projects Consistent with an Existing General or
Comprehensive Plan do not Require Additional CEQA Review
RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests that the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee recommend that the City
Council accept the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap (Attachment C) is meant to coordinate and prioritize the
City’s efforts in expanding electric mobility options – from electric trucks to electric cars to e-
bikes and e-scooters – to meet climate and transportation goals. The Roadmap identifies key
strategies and actions that will help the City and its partners support electric mobility (e-
mobility) adoption of all sizes, develop charging and other infrastructure to support the e-
mobility transition, and ensure electric transportation programs and policies align with related
City efforts. The Roadmap’s major strategies focus on: (1) raising public awareness and
education around electric transportation; (2) expanding access to e-mobility options and
charging infrastructure for underserved groups (such as renters, low-income households, and
non-profits); (3) developing public and shared charging infrastructure and mobility hubs; (4)
coordinating e-mobility efforts with broader transportation efforts; and (5) encouraging
electric-grid-friendly charging and infrastructure practices.
The Roadmap utilizes insights from the EV Charger Needs Assessment, summarized in
Attachment B, to address the particular opportunities and challenges of e-mobility.
Furthermore, the Roadmap is intended to complement and support the implementation of
other City plans and studies such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and
Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan.
The Roadmap is not intended to be a Work Plan. Instead, it guides other work efforts. Staff has
included a summary in Attachment A of how the Roadmap could guide current work efforts, as
well as some potential work items for the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan Climate Section, along
with an explanation of how they would be guided by the Roadmap’s strategies and actions.
BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the City Council adopted the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP), and
approved the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan. The E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap fulfills the 2023–
2025 S/CAP Work Plan Item 2.5A, which directed staff to develop an EV Strategic Plan. It is
meant to align with the policy guidelines in Appendix C of that document and complements the
Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan, which focuses more heavily on the electric distribution
system impacts and benefits of e-mobility and other technologies. This E-Mobility Strategic
Roadmap is intended to provide a coordinated approach to achieving several relevant S/CAP
Goals and Key Actions, as described in the Roadmap itself.
ANALYSIS
The E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap identifies five main strategies to promote electrified
transportation:
1.Raise Awareness: Increase public understanding and adoption of electric transportation
through comprehensive education, safety and outreach campaigns, community events,
and partnerships.
2.Expand Access for Underserved Groups: Address barriers faced by renters, low-income
households, multi-family residents, businesses, commuters, and visitors by expanding
electric transportation charging infrastructure, providing technical assistance, and
creating shared mobility programs like carshare and e-bike lending.
3.Public & Shared Infrastructure: Develop strategically located public EV chargers and
mobility hubs near multifamily developments and employment centers, fostering public-
private partnerships to ensure accessibility and utilization.
4.Integrate Micromobility: Enhance integration of e-bikes and e-scooters with transit and
existing bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, improving first- and last-mile connectivity and
encouraging multi-modal transportation.
5.Grid-Friendly Charging: Implement smart charging practices, including load
management and grid-responsive solutions, aligning with broader goals outlined in the
Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan to support grid stability and resilience.
These Roadmap strategies are meant to guide the role of e-mobility in Palo Alto's existing
sustainability and mobility programs and its future programs, as described in Attachment B. The
City currently hosts EV and e-bike events, runs EV discount campaigns, and operates an EV
Technical Assistance Program to help multifamily properties install electric vehicle chargers.
Additionally, programs like Safe Routes to School and events such as “Bike to Wherever Day”
promote active transportation. The Roadmap would guide these activities by, for example,
including promotion of e-bikes and e-scooters to enhance active transportation and transit use,
while making sure infrastructure to support these technologies and conventional bicycling is
included when installing e-car charging infrastructure.
The Roadmap would also be used to shape upcoming initiatives. As noted, the Roadmap is not a
work plan, but work items achieving its goals would be included in the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work
Plan. Some tentative work items being considered for inclusion are in Attachment A, including:
•Enhanced Multifamily EV Charging Program (“EV Program 2.0”): This program expands
multifamily charging infrastructure through updated guidelines, increased incentives,
and technical support. Solutions include private multifamily charging, neighborhood e-
mobility hubs, and curbside installations. E-car charger installations would use strategies
to avoid overbuilding based on insights from the EV Charger Needs Assessment
(described below), would explore the use of strategies like managed charging to
minimize electric utility impacts, and would explore including micromobility
infrastructure compatible with City transportation plans.
•Micromobility Network and Shared E-Vehicle Pilot: Following the Shared Micromobility
Feasibility Study, this initiative would pilot shared bikes, e-bikes, and/or e-scooters,
enhancing first- and last-mile connectivity, complementing transit use, and aligning with
the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, with implementation anticipated in 2026.
Staff is currently finalizing an EV Charger Needs Assessment report summarizing the results of
analysis and research completed in the last year to guide the City’s EV charger construction
efforts. Key preliminary insights from that plan are included in Attachment B, and were used to
guide development of the Roadmap. Two scenarios were examined: a moderate “Light EV
Charging” scenario focusing mainly on home and workplace chargers, and a “Robust EV
Charging” scenario envisioning significantly expanded public charging infrastructure to attract a
greater share of commuter and visitor EV charging. The study recommends prioritizing home
charging for multifamily residents as the most cost-effective approach, supplemented
strategically by public fast chargers to serve drivers without private options. It assesses that the
charging price needed to support public charging in Palo Alto is similar to the cost of home
charging in nearby cities, emphasizing that public and workplace charging projects should be
approached carefully to avoid underutilization. All of these insights are reflected in strategies
and actions in the Roadmap.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no additional fiscal or resource impact associated with the E-Mobility Strategic
Roadmap, since this document is meant to guide other work efforts. The fiscal and resource
impact of potential 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan items will be evaluated through the 2026-2027
S/CAP Work Plan development process.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
E-Mobility has been a topic of a number of public meetings about the S/CAP, and input from
these meetings has informed this Roadmap. These include:
•Various public and private meetings of the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee and its Working
Group from 2021 – 2023
•June 5, 2023 Council meeting adopting the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan and
the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan, including guidelines for development of an EV Strategic
Plan (now E-Mobility Strategic Plan)1
•Oct 30, 2024 Planning & Transportation Commission meeting on shared micromobility2
Meetings of the Climate Protection Committee and its Working Group in June 2024,
September 2024, and November 2024 focused on the E-Mobility Strategic Plan and EV
Charger Needs Assessment
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Potential environmental impacts of an EV Strategic Plan (now E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap)
were analyzed as part of the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Addendum to the
Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report. On June 5, 2023 (Staff Report #2303-1158),
Council certified the Addendum, which found that the S/CAP programs would not result in any
significant or substantially more severe effects beyond what was previously analyzed in the
Comprehensive Plan EIR. Under CEQA Guidelines section 15183, projects consistent with an
existing general or comprehensive plan do not require additional CEQA review.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Current and Potential Work Items and How the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
Will Guide and Complement Their Development
Attachment B: Insights from EV Charger Needs Assessment
Attachment C: E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
APPROVED BY:
Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer
1 City Council, June 5, 2023, Adoption of a Resolution Approving an Addendum to the 2017 Comprehensive Plan Env
ironmental Impact Report and Adopting the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP); Approval of the 2023-2
025 S/CAP Workplan; and Review of the 2023 Earth Day Report, https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/meetings/Ite
mWithTemplateType?id=2276&meetingTemplateType=2&compiledMeetingDocumentId=7200
2 Planning and Transportation Commission, October 30, 2024, Request for Feedback on the Development of a
Feasibility Study for a Shared Micromobility Program in Palo Alto
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=f234f57c-3691-46e7-8666-c45662976e81
Attachment A
Current and Potential Work Items and How the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Will
Guide and Complement Their Development
Contents:
1. Current Activities Implementing E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
2. Potential 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan Items to Implement E-Mobility Roadmap
3. How the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Would Guide Implementation of Current
Activities and Potential Future Work Plan Items
4. Current Activities and Potential 2026-2027 Work Plan Items that the E-Mobility
Strategic Roadmap Will Complement
1. Current Activities Aligned With E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
In line with E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Strategy 1, the City promotes electric vehicle
(EV) charging, active transportation, and transit in a variety of ways, including:
•EV, bike, and e-bike expos and workshops for the general public, employees of
major commuters, and residents of multi-family buildings where EV chargers
have been installed
•EV discount campaigns
•Workshops, curriculum components, and educational materials to build student
bike skills for students
•Use of volunteer school-site representatives to support student bike adoption
•Bike to Wherever day
•General outreach through a variety of City electronic and non-electronic channels
•Promoting these topics at community and school events
In line with E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Strategy 2, the City promotes EV charger
access for multi-family residents through its EV Technical Assistance Program.
2. Potential 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan Items Aligned With E-Mobility Roadmap
Enhanced Multifamily EV Charging Infrastructure Program (EV Program 2.0)
S/CAP Key Action(s): EV5, EV6, EV7
Target Completion Date:
Resource Availability:
Description: Update program guidelines, incentives (i.e. rebates, financing), and
technical assistance offerings for the installation of EV charging infrastructure that
supports multifamily residents through:
a) private on-site charging at multifamily properties;
b) publicly-accessible charging at neighborhood e-mobility hubs hosted on either
public or private properties; and
c) publicly-owned or public-private partnership neighborhood curbside charging
installations;
with the goal of greatly increasing access to EV charging to multifamily residents by
the end of 2027.
Attachment A
Implement Micromobility Feasibility Study recommendations
S/CAP Key Action(s): M1, M2
Target Completion Date: 2026
Resource Availability: Fully staffed and
partially funded, need to evaluate based
on recommendation.
Description: Pursue a bike/e-bike/e-scooter share pilot program or other
recommendation as advised by the Micromobility Feasibility Study, to be finalized in
fall 2025.
3. How the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Would Guide Implementation of Current
Activities and Potential Future Work Plan Items
The bullet points below summarize how each E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap strategy
would guide implementation of current activities and the potential work plan items
above:
Strategy 1: Raise awareness of the advantages of electric transportation and provide
resources and assistance to help residents, businesses, commuters, and visitors
transition
•Staff would continue promotion of EV charging, active transportation, and transit
•Staff would explore ways to enhance active transportation and transit promotion with
promotion of e-bike, e-scooter, and other small EV promotion
•Staff would explore greater use of ambassadors to promote non-ICE transportation
Strategy 2: Help underserved residents, businesses / nonprofits, and commuters access
electric transportation
•Staff would expand its EV charging program focused on multi-family charger access,
with a particular focus on affordable housing
•The program would use a combination of strategies (such as mobility hubs, curbside
charging, shared EV charging, and individual unit EV charging as appropriate) to
provide multi-family EV charging access without overbuilding
•Economically efficient program designs would be explored for the program with the
goal of enabling the multi-family charger program to serve the entire community with
available funding sources
•Staff would explore adding safe, secure bike and e-bike parking and charging to
multi-family buildings when adding EV charging for enhanced safety and ability to
access active transportation and e-mobility
Strategy 3: Pursue public and shared electric transportation infrastructure
•Staff would develop the public and workplace EV charging study in alignment with
the guidance in the E-Mobility Strategic Plan roadmap
Attachment A
•Staff would pursue a bike/e-bike/e-scooter share pilot program or other
recommendation as advised by the Micromobility Feasibility Study, to be finalized in
fall 2025.
Strategy 4: Develop small EV (e.g. e-bike, e-scooter) infrastructure that complements
City active transportation and public transit strategies
•When implementing e-mobility hubs near multi-family buildings, staff would ensure
they are compatible with future bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
•When developing e-mobility hubs, staff would look for opportunities to align with
micromobility pilots or other recommendations approved by Council based on the
Micromobility Feasibility Study
Strategy 5: Encourage charging that helps the local and statewide electric system and is
aligned with Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan strategies and actions
•When implementing multi-family focused EV charger program, staff would explore
promoting or requiring technologies that minimize grid impacts of EV charging
•When implementing electric system upgrades to support EV charging in multi-family
buildings, staff would evaluate implementing upgrades needed to additionally
support building electrification
•Where grid-responsive EV charging is cost-effective based on Reliability and
Resiliency Strategic Plan analysis and supported by Council policy, staff would
incorporate it into multi-family EV charging programs and promote it citywide
4. Current Activities and Potential 2026-2027 Work Plan Items that the E-Mobility
Strategic Roadmap Will Complement
Current activities:
•A Safe Streets for All plan is currently in development
•The Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan is currently in development
Potential 2026-2027 Work Plan Items:
Achieve Benchmarks for Bicycle and Pedestrian Capital Improvement Projects
S/CAP Key Action(s): M1, M2, M3
Target Completion Date: Varying, by
2027
Resource Availability: Varying
Description:
South Palo Alto Bikeways Demonstration Project: Upgrade crossings and bicycle
facilities on East Meadow Dr and Fabian Way to improve safety, especially for
students traveling to school. Construction anticipated for summer 2026. Project is fully
staffed and funded.
Attachment A
Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway Project: Improve walking and bicycling on
Churchill Avenue with a multi-use path, intersection improvements, and landscaping.
Project work is focused between the Caltrain tracks and El Camino Real. Construction
is scheduled to finish by summer 2026.
Quarry Road Extension at El Camino Park: Develop underused portion of El Camino
Park to provide a direct connection from El Camino Real to the Palo Alto Transit
Center. Project is led by Stanford. By 2027, project will complete the Caltrans process
for the Encroachment Permit and prepare plans, specifications, and estimate
construction documents for the project in both Caltrans and City right-of-way. In
addition, the team will perform both a bike and transit operations assessment and
recommend operational scenarios to inform future bikes, bus and shuttle operations in
and around the Transit Center.
South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity: Identify locations and design concepts for
additional east-west bicycle and pedestrian crossings of the Caltrain railroad tracks in
the southern part of the City. Project will complete following Council adoption of a
final report in Q3 of 2026, and next steps for the City include securing grant funding
for final design and construction.
Attachment B
Overview of Preliminary EV Charger Needs Assessment Results
This document summarizes key findings from the draft EV Charger Needs Assessment
conducted by Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) for the City of Palo Alto. The
report models the level of EV charging infrastructure needed to meet the City's “80x30”
climate goal—reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80% below 1990 levels by
2030—and assesses the costs and business models that could support this
infrastructure buildout.
Overview and Key Findings
Palo Alto will need to electrify a large share of its vehicle fleet to meet emissions
reduction targets. The City’s electrification goals, combined with State mandates,
suggest that at least 42,000 to 50,000 light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) could be on the
road by 2040, along with commuter and visitor EVs and medium-duty and heavy-duty
fleet EVs.
To support this transition, the City will need between 35,000 and 60,000 EV chargers
across all use cases (home, workplace, public, and fleet). Two charging scenarios were
modeled to illustrate the opposite ends of that range: a “Light EV Charging” scenario
with limited public charging and lower adoption rates, and a “Robust EV Charging”
scenario with higher EV adoption and substantial public infrastructure investment.
Under the robust scenario, Palo Alto would act as a regional “charging hub” for
commuters and visitors. Up-front charger costs rise substantially in the robust scenario
but are offset by increased utilization and charging revenues if care is taken to ensure
charging capacity aligns with demand. The Robust EV Charging scenario assumes high
demand.
Business Models and Cost Recovery
The analysis examines multiple business models for charger deployment, including
City-owned, third-party owned, and Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS). Public chargers—
particularly DC fast chargers—are substantially more expensive than home chargers,
but can serve more vehicles and are necessary to support drivers without home access.
A key finding is that prioritizing home charging for multifamily residents can offer a
lower-cost path than investing heavily in public chargers, especially through a
combination of individual L1 chargers and shared on-site L2 chargers or nearby public
charging to supplement.
Commuter, Visitor, and E-Bike Considerations
Palo Alto’s strategy must also consider how much charging infrastructure will serve non-
resident commuters and visitors. A low-support strategy serving 25% of this population’s
charging would require about 3,000 public and workplace chargers. Supporting 75% of
commuter/visitor charging would require about 16,000 chargers, a level that would
require that public charging in Palo Alto be significantly cheaper than home charging or
that many commuters and visitors buy EVs even if they do not have access to adequate
home charging and charge them in Palo Alto. It would require charging costs of
approximately $0.42/kWh to recover the costs of up-front capital investment. This is
comparable to PG&E home charging rates in surrounding jurisdictions, meaning that
careful evaluation will need to be done site by site to ensure chargers are fully utilized
and overbuilding does not occur.
The report also evaluates the role of e-bikes in reducing vehicle miles traveled and
GHG emissions. Incentivizing e-bike use for commuting and errands can provide cost-
effective emissions abatement, especially if paired with supportive infrastructure, but in
many cases does not represent a cost savings over driving, unlike conventional
bicycling, unless the e bike is used for 2,500 to 3,000 miles per year (about 6.8 – 8.2
miles per day if used every day or 12.5 – 15 miles per day if used only for work trips).
But these numbers are highly dependent on assumptions about the cost of the bicycle,
which ranges widely, and annual maintenance, which can also vary significantly.
Policy Considerations
The assessment surfaced the following policy considerations:
• Certain customer segments have higher barriers to adoption, such as renters and
multifamily residents. Creative business models (such as CaaS) will be critical to
helping landlords serve the former, while policy decisions about whether to pursue a
public-focused or home-focused charging strategy are critical for the latter.
•Investment decisions in public charging should account for charger utilization and
alignment with customer preferences (e.g., preference for DC fast charging).
Mapping of nearby uses and staged investments may help avoid overbuilding.
• Business models should be tailored to customer type and ownership model, with
flexibility to combine public, private, and CaaS approaches.
• Public funding may be needed in locations the private market will not serve, such as
low-income multifamily buildings.
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap - Page 1 of 6
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
Table of Contents
1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................1
2 E-Mobility Overview ...............................................................................................................................................2
3 Policy Context.........................................................................................................................................................3
4 Role of the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap...............................................................................................................4
5 Strategies and Actions.............................................................................................................................................4
1 Introduction
This E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap provides a framework for Palo Alto to advance its electric transportation
goals. It lays out the vision, guiding principles, strategies, and actions necessary to transition to a sustainable,
equitable, and electrified transportation network that aligns with local and state climate objectives.
1.1 Vision Statement
A community where safe, multi-modal, carbon-free transportation is widely available, user-friendly, and highly
utilized by commuters, visitors, and residents regardless of income level
The vision promotes a comprehensive, accessible, and inclusive approach to transportation, emphasizing multi-
modal electric mobility solutions that are environmentally sustainable and beneficial for all community
members, regardless of income.
1.2 Guiding Principles
These guiding principles shape the roadmap's strategic approach, emphasizing the importance of equity,
accessibility, strategic infrastructure deployment, efficient use of resources, and integration with broader
electrification and resilience planning.
•Promote electrified mobility alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles
•Provide access to electric transportation regardless of income level
•Access to adequate charging should be available to all residents, commuters, and visitors
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap – Page 2 of 6
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•Information on purchasing, renting/sharing, and charging of electric transportation should be widely
available
•Charging infrastructure should be provided at appropriate locations, speeds, and configurations that
meet the needs of all residents, commuters, and visitors
•Pursue low-grid-impact charging solutions that integrate with broader electrification planning
•Focus on strategic siting of publicly accessible charging to serve nearby electric transportation users
•Where appropriate, provide financial incentives to the community to install chargers
•Provide cost-efficient business models that leverage the financial strengths of each stakeholder
The guiding principles provide more nuance to the vision statement listed above, describing how the vision for
a future community will be implemented through the strategies and actions in this roadmap.
2 E-Mobility Overview
This section provides an overview of e-mobility broadly, its infrastructure needs, and how it might be used in
Palo Alto.
2.1 What is E-Mobility?
E-mobility involves the use of electric-powered vehicles as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based
transportation. It includes a range of transportation modes such as electric cars, buses, bikes, scooters, and trucks,
offering cleaner and often more efficient alternatives.
2.2 E-Mobility in Palo Alto
Palo Alto’s e-mobility ecosystem encompasses a diverse range of electric transportation options. Personal electric
vehicles, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, are increasingly popular for short-distance travel and first- and last-mile
connectivity. Shared micromobility services, including bike-share and scooter-share programs, are not available in
Palo Alto but could provide accessible options for those without personal vehicles. As a suburban community, Palo
Alto’s e-mobility will include electric cars as a major component. In the commercial sector, medium-duty electric
delivery vans can be utilized for local logistics, reducing emissions from freight transport, but charging is likely
delivered primarily outside Palo Alto. Heavy-duty electric vehicles, such as electric buses and garbage trucks, are
being integrated into public transit and municipal services, and do need charging infrastructure.
2.3 Co-Benefits
E-mobility offers co-benefits beyond GHG reduction, including improved local air quality from zero tailpipe
emissions, reduced noise pollution, enhanced public health through increased active transport options, and lower
transportation costs for users due to reduced fuel and maintenance expenses. Expanded adoption of small EVs
like e-bikes and e-scooters could enable access to transit for those who currently have difficulty accessing it and
could widen the population using active transportation modes, reducing congestion and non-exhaust air pollution
from cars (which can be generated by electric cars as well). Traveling with small EVs is also more energy efficient,
reducing impacts to the electric grid and reducing the amount of renewable electricity generation needed.
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2.4 E-Mobility as a Last Mile Solution
E-bikes and e-scooters facilitate last-mile journeys by providing a quick, flexible connection between transit stops
and final destinations, enhancing the overall attractiveness of public transportation, reducing reliance on personal
vehicles for short trips, and improving network accessibility.
2.5 Economics and Tradeoffs: E-Mobility vs. Conventional Mobility
E-mobility includes tradeoffs against conventional mobility and may be more or less expensive. For example, e-
cars are cheaper than conventional cars over time but can result in range anxiety and charging issues for adopters
and the need for specialized charging infrastructure. E-bikes and e-scooters, on the other hand, have higher costs
per mile than conventional bicycles and scooters, but are balanced by increased convenience, accessibility, and
ease of use.
2.6 E-Mobility Charging Infrastructure
Small EVs can usually charge with a common 120V outlet, though for some e-bike designs without detachable
batteries it may be challenging to find an outlet convenient to secure charging. E-car charging infrastructure varies
from low-speed, low-cost Level 1 chargers suitable for most average daily use, to faster Level 2 chargers providing
enough charging for several days or for long trips, and high-speed direct current (DC) fast chargers to supplement
home charging or for other public and commercial applications. Heavy vehicle fleets may require many high-
capacity chargers, straining local electric grids. Charging considerations include up-front capital investment,
ensuring sufficient electrical capacity, optimizing charger placement, and addressing safety concerns such as
battery thermal events.
3 Policy Context
This E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap fulfills the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan Work Item 2.5A to develop an EV
Strategic Plan. It is meant to align with the policy guidelines in Appendix C of that document and complements
the Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan, which focuses more heavily on the electric distribution system
impacts and benefits of e-mobility and other technologies. This E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap is intended to
provide a coordinated approach to achieving several relevant Sustainability and climate Action Plan (S/CAP)
Goals and Key Actions, including:
•The Electric Vehicle section Goals to reduce transportation-related GHG emissions and to build out an
EV charging network
•The Mobility section Goals to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and increase active transportation
and transit use
•Mobility Key Action M2 focused on increasing access to transit using, among other solutions,
micromobility as a last-mile solution
•EV Key Actions EV1 and EV3 focused on EV promotion, including promoting alternative transportation
and electric micromobility alongside EVs
•EV Key Action EV4 on facilitating adoption of EVs of all types
•EV Key Action EV5 focused on creating infrastructure for electric micromobility and active transportation
when building EV infrastructure
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4 Role of the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
The E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap is intended as a high-level strategic document to guide work on e-mobility. It
is not meant to be a work plan, and specific work items will be identified in other plans or the 2026-2027 S/CAP
Work Plan. In addition, this roadmap is meant to complement other plans, not replace or overlap with them.
Complementary plans include:
•Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (in development)
•Safe Streets for All (in development)
•Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan (adopted, being implemented)
•Shared Micromobility Study (in development)
•EV Charger Needs Assessment (in development)
The table below shows various topics and how they are addressed in each plan, strategy, or roadmap:
Topic Plan(s)
Building the bike network Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Bike, pedestrian, and e-bike safety Safe Streets for All, Bicycle and Pedestrian
Transportation Plan
Shared e-bikes and e-scooters Shared Micromobility Feasibility Study
Mitigating the grid impact of e-cars and e-trucks Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan
Availability of safe charging infrastructure for
various types of e-mobility and users
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
Strategies for e-mobility promotion E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
Economics of e-mobility as a solution for GHG
reduction and achievement of co-benefits
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
Equitable access to e-mobility E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
Number of EV chargers needed to support various
sectors, business models for charging
EV Charger Needs Assessment
Private e-bike economics EV Charger Needs Assessment
In several of the strategies and actions below the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap notes coordination with the
plans and analyses above (for example, making sure managed charging is promoted or required in multi-family
EV charging installations to coordinate with the Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan).
5 Strategies and Actions
The following strategies and actions are designed to guide the City’s e-mobility efforts in the areas of promotion,
equity, supporting infrastructure, and ensuring e-mobility efforts complement other transportation and electric
grid reliability planning efforts. Collectively, these strategies and actions provide a roadmap for coordinated
implementation across various programs, projects, and related efforts involving e-mobility as a central focus or as
one of a broader set of objectives.
5.1 Strategy 1: Raise awareness of the advantages of electric transportation and provide resources
and assistance to help residents, businesses, commuters, and visitors transition
This strategy focuses on comprehensive outreach, education, and partnership-building for e-mobility. Outreach
efforts are intended to be complementary, with smaller e-mobility technologies like e-bikes and e-scooters being
promoted as part of efforts to promote active transportation or as a last mile solution for transit, and emissions
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap – Page 5 of 6
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reduction more broadly being promoted in the context of active transportation and transit solutions – promoting
getting out of cars, but if you have to drive, drive electric. Equitable promotion of e-mobility and regional
partnerships are key considerations in this strategy to reach income-qualified travelers and commuters.
Action 1: Continue and expand existing outreach, education, and engagement efforts to promote electric
transportation adoption to residents and commuters
Action 2: Combine promotion of public transit and active transportation with promotion of e-mobility solutions,
especially “last mile” solutions
Action 3: Create communications tailored to the needs of low-income residents and renters
Action 4: Seek regional partnerships to promote all types of electric transportation to residents regionally and to
promote electric cars and trucks to businesses like rideshare / delivery with high regional vehicle use
5.2 Strategy 2: Help underserved residents, businesses / nonprofits, and commuters access electric
transportation
This strategy addresses barriers faced by underserved populations by facilitating access to electric vehicles,
chargers, and shared mobility services through targeted programs and incentives. In this context “underserved”
means groups who are not well served by private industry efforts to install charging. A key consideration for this
strategy is economic efficiency to ensure infrastructure being built is widely accessible.
Action 1: Active facilitation of EV charging, bicycle infrastructure, and shared electric vehicles (carshare, e-bike
share, e-scooter share, etc.) for multi-family complexes, major employers, and in employment centers
Action 2: Explore preferential parking and charging for visitors in electric vehicles
Action 3: Explore ways to ease the provision of electrical infrastructure to support chargers in multi-family
complexes, major employers, and in employment centers
Action 4: Identify cost-efficient business models for service delivery that are highly scalable and minimize the
amount of additional funding and financing required
5.3 Strategy 3: Pursue public and shared electric transportation infrastructure
This strategy aims to expand public and shared charging infrastructure to ensure high utilization of infrastructure,
enable access for those less able to afford their own e-mobility solutions or who are not yet ready to fully commit
to e-mobility, and to enable facilities that can be used by multiple groups in the community (such as employees
and nearby multi-family residents).
Action 1: Map areas of high potential for shared electric transportation infrastructure such as publicly available
charging, bike infrastructure, or shared vehicles
Action 2: Explore e-mobility hubs near multi-family housing and employment centers that include amenities like
DC fast EV charging, electric car share, bike share, or bicycle infrastructure.
Action 3: Explore public-private partnerships (e.g. in churches, neighborhood centers) and on-street charging to
add EV charging allowing for all-day and/or overnight charging near employment centers and multi-family
residences.
E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap – Page 6 of 6
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5.4 Strategy 4: Develop small EV (e.g. e-bike, e-scooter) infrastructure that complements City
active transportation and public transit strategies
This strategy ensures that e-mobility strategies enhance active transportation networks and programs, for
example by integrating micromobility infrastructure—such as e-bike and e-scooter docking and supportive
facilities—with existing bike and pedestrian routes and ensuring mobility hubs do not interfere with bike lanes
or other active transportation pathways.
Action 1: Ensure e-mobility hub locations complement public transit and bicycle/scooter friendly routes where
possible
Action 2: Pursue implementation of low-stress bicycle facilities to encourage e-bike and e-scooter use, especially
for novice riders
Action 3: Coordinate e-mobility strategies with City active transportation and public transit strategies wherever
possible
5.5 Strategy 5: Encourage charging that helps the local and statewide electric system and is aligned
with Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan strategies and actions
This strategy is focused on making sure e-mobility infrastructure, primarily e-car charging, minimizes its impact
on the electric grid. It includes smart charging and load management programs to optimize charging behavior,
minimize grid impacts, and align with the city’s reliability and resiliency objectives.
Action 1: Investigate programs and rate designs that facilitate employee daytime charging in Palo Alto
Action 2: Promote, facilitate, or require load management for large concentrations of electric vehicle charging
Action 3: Explore opportunities for vehicle to home and grid integration in coordination with Reliability and
Resiliency Strategic Plan implementation efforts.
Action 4: Ensure electrical capacity added to support electric transportation can support other priority
technologies like building electrification, solar, storage, and similar technologies
E-Mobility StrategicRoadmap
June 13, 2025
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction Acting Now for a Resilient Future
Goal of Today’s Meeting
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
•Seeking Council acceptance of E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
•Roadmap is:
•Reflective of prior Committee and Working Group feedback on e-mobility
strategies and tactics to pursue
•Supported by EV Charger Needs Assessment analysis
•In line with staff approach to future program design
•Renamed plan: “E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap”
•Not intended to be a plan with its own work items, but rather a document to
guide how tasks in other work plans are implemented
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2024 Feedback from Working Group on E-Mobility
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
•Keep in mind tension between VMT reduction and GHG reduction – VMT reduction
can be long-term or short-term, we are seeking GHG reduction in the shorter term
•Make sure to frame Transportation goals in terms of seeking as much VMT
reduction as possible and electrification of what remains
•Many good discussions about topics like “last mile” solutions, EV charger
maintenance, barriers to e-bike adoption, bike safety, co-benefits of VMT reduction
•General support for the direction we are headed
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E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap: Background
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
•June 2023: City Council adopts 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan
•Included policy guidelines for EV Strategic Plan
•June 2023: City Council approves budget for EV Strategic Plan (now E-Mobility Strategic Plan) development
•Q3/Q4 2023: RFP for consultant
•January 2024: Council approves contract for EV Charger Needs Assessment (to support E-Mobility Strategic Plan) alongside S/CAP Funding Study
•Late 2024: Draft E-Mobility Strategic Plan strategies and actions and preliminary EV Charger Needs Assessment results presented to Committee and Working Group
•Early 2025: E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap development
Council 2025 Priority Objective #30: Complete E-Mobility Strategic Plan for Council acceptance
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Context: S/CAP Transportation Goals
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
•Reducing transportation emissions:
•Step 1: Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
•Step 2: Reduce emissions for the remaining VMT
•Co-benefits of VMT reduction include reducing local air pollution (PM 2.5),
congestion, health benefits of active transportation
E-Mobility
Active
Transportation
and Public
Transit
Small EVs for Last
Mile Solutions•E-Mobility and traditional VMT
reduction solutions are inter-
related
•Small EVs can enhance transit use
•Shared vehicles can expand access
Shared vehicles
make active
transportation
and public transit
more accessible
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Scope of E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
•Addressed in other plans and efforts:
•Bicycle, transit, other VMT reduction projects/plans – Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan, Shared Micromobility Feasibility Study, and other plans
•Electric grid planning –Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan
•Hydrogen transportation – City has less of a role in this, but staff will track progress
•Focus of this roadmap:
•Promoting e-mobility in Palo Alto for emissions reduction
•Ensuring adequate infrastructure for e-mobility vehicles
•Using e-mobility solutions and infrastructure to enhance planned active transportation and public transit efforts
•Integrate electric-grid-friendly solutions into e-mobility programs
•E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap and its strategies and actions would guide 2023-2025 Work Plan items and development of 2026-2027 Work Plan
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E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap - Strategies
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
E-Mobility Promotion
E-Mobility Infrastructure
Coordination with Related
Plans
Strategy 1
Strategy 2
Strategy 3
Strategy 4
Strategy 5
E-Mobility Promotion: Promote e-mobility,
including how it can complement active
transportation and public transit
On-Site Infrastructure: Help underserved
community members access e-mobility
Public and Shared Infrastructure: Expand shared or
public charging, shared vehicle, and other shared
infrastructure where effective and economical
Public Transit and Active Transportation:
Coordinate E-Mobility actions with City’s active
transportation and public transit efforts
Electric Distribution System Impact: Ensure
E-Mobility actions minimize grid impact and align
with Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan
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E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Next Steps
paloalto.gov/ClimateAction
•June 13 – Committee recommendation
•August – Council acceptance of E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap
•Fall 2025:
•Align existing programs with Roadmap
•Align proposals for new programs with Roadmap
•Review Roadmap with any other relevant stakeholders
•Integrate work items aligned with Roadmap into proposed 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan
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Thank You!
Please submit questions or comments to
sustainability@paloalto.gov