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DOT Releases New Edition of EV Toolkit for Urban Areas

July 12, 2023

Urban electric mobility toolkit 2023

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), released a free technical resource to help larger communities take full advantage of federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and other forms of electric transportation.

The new guide is called Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and funding Urban Electric Mobility Infrastructure, which provides a comprehensive resource for communities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), transportation providers, businesses, and property owners and developers by including information on how to scope, plan, and identify ways to leverage billions of dollars in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This builds on the efforts of the Joint Office to provide states and communities across America with information and assistance to accelerate an electrified transportation system that is convenient, affordable, reliable, and equitable. The toolkit includes guidance to help urban areas implement other forms of electric transportation, such as public transit, electric bikes and scooters, and ride-share services.

“Right now, there is incredible energy and momentum in communities across this country to transform and electrify our transportation system to ensure that every American has access to convenient, affordable, and reliable mobility options,” said Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “The Urban EV Toolkit is the recipe for a multimodal, connected, clean transportation system in our cities and towns to complement the newly updated Rural EV Toolkit. Whether you choose to ride, drive, or walk in your community, the benefits of electrified transportation are baked in.”

Building an affordable and accessible public charging network will help make electric forms of transportation more convenient for the 71% of Americans who live in communities with a population over 50,000. While many EV owners can charge their vehicles at home or work, people who live in higher density areas, especially those living in apartments and condos, may not have easy access to a garage or the space for a private charger, which means they are more reliant on public charging options.

In May, DOT released an updated Rural EV Toolkit that incorporated feedback from rural communities and stakeholders on the toolkit’s first iteration. The updated toolkit includes more information on EV charging programs and information on related topics like public transit and school bus electrification.