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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2507-4943CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, August 18, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     6.Staff and the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee Recommendation 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 City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: Public Works Meeting Date: August 18, 2025 Report #:2507-4943 TITLE Staff and the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee Recommendation 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 The Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (CASC) and staff recommend that the City Council accept the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap (Attachment A) 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 an 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. Edits to Strategy 4 to be clear it applies to residents, not just non-residential community members. Modifications to Strategy 5, Action 1 language for clarity and to make sure it reflects the Committee intent to promote public and workplace charging at advantageous rates compared to adjacent electric utility rates. Ensure Strategy 2, Action 3 acknowledges the potential need for charging infrastructure in Palo Alto to support electric transit and aviation in addition to the other uses mentioned in that action. BACKGROUND ANALYSIS Raise Awareness: Increase public understanding and adoption of electric transportation through comprehensive education, safety and outreach campaigns, community events, and partnerships. 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. 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. Staff is currently finalizing an EV Charger Needs Assessment report that will summarize the results of analysis and research completed to guide the City’s EV charger construction investments. It will be brought forward to the CASC and Council by December 2025. Key preliminary insights from that plan are included in Attachment B; all of these insights are reflected in strategies and actions in the Roadmap. Two scenarios were examined in the needs assessment: 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 assessment 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. 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 •June 11, 2025 Climate Action Working Group review of the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap. Comments received during this meeting included: ensuring promoting e- mobility as a last mile solution through programs in addition to infrastructure development was clearly reflected in the plan, ensuring all transit stations serving Palo Alto were considered for e-mobility solutions, including potential needs of electric transit, and being explicit that efforts to reduce the impact of e-car charging on electric infrastructure included electric utility infrastructure as well. All of these comments were addressed and are reflected in redline in the attached E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap. 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 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: E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap Attachment B: Insights from EV Charger Needs Assessment APPROVED BY: Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer 1 City Council, June 5, 2023; Agenda Item #14; SR #2303-1158, https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=82342 2 Planning and Transportation Commission, October 30, 2024: Agenda Item 3; SR #2410-3586, https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=13744 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 Insights from Supporting Analyses and Research.........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6 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 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. E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap – Page 3 of 6 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. E-mobility includes tradeoffs against conventional mobility and may be more or less expensive. For example, e- -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. 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 E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap – Page 4 of 6 3 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). 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. 4.1 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 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 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, transit and mobility hubs, places serving electric aviation, 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, , including strategies to avoid or minimize associated costs like transformer, panel, and other electrical upgrades. 5.3 Strategy 3: Pursue public and shared electric transportation infrastructure 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 5.4 Strategy 4: Develop small EV (e.g. e-bike, e-scooter) infrastructure and programs 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, or by using e-bikes and e-scooters to enhance last-mile employee and resident commute programs and generate more participation. 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 and use e-mobility to enhance community VMT reduction efforts 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 and promote public and workplace charging by commuters and visitors at lower rates than overnight charging in nearby electric service territories. 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 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. 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.