How Utility Poles and Streetlights Can Improve Equitable Access to EV Charging in U.S. Cities

As electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity across the United States, expanding public charging infrastructure has become a priority. However, large gaps still exist in equitable access to public charging, especially for residents of urban areas and multi-unit dwellings. Utility poles and streetlights present a major opportunity to rapidly expand public EV charging access in an equitable way.

The Need for More Equitable Public Charging Infrastructure

The lack of charging access presents a major barrier to EV adoption for many urban residents. People living in multi-unit residences (MURs) like apartments often don’t have access to home charging. Public and workplace charging are the only options.

According to U.S. Department of Energy data, less than 25% of MUR residents currently have access to residential EV charging. That compares to over 60% of single-family home residents with home charging access.

The gaps are even larger when you look along demographic lines. A study by the California Energy Commission found that areas with a higher share of disadvantaged and low-income populations have significantly less public EV charger access.

Boosting charging installations in underserved areas is critical for increasing EV adoption rates among lower-income urban residents. Fortunately, strategically leveraging existing utility poles and streetlights can rapidly expand access in an equitable way.

Leveraging Utility Poles for More Charging Stations

Utility poles already provide electricity delivery infrastructure throughout U.S. cities and are ideal locations for public EV charging stations.

Adding “make-ready” connections to utility poles streamlines the installation of pole-mounted EV chargers. Make-ready infrastructure includes the supporting electric equipment needed for charging like a service drop, meter, and panel.

With the make-ready components in place, adding the actual EV charging station is simplified. This enables charger installations to be rapidly scaled.

Cities like Los Angeles have adopted widescale utility pole make-ready programs to add thousands of public chargers per year. LA’s goal is to have charger access within a quarter-mile of all city residents.

Pole-mounted chargers also avoid the high costs and long delays of constructing dedicated charging hubs. By leveraging existing poles rather than acquiring land, permits, and construction can be dramatically accelerated.

Charging speeds may be lower than dedicated charging stations. But poles enable many more convenient community locations for charging one or two EVs simultaneously.

Using Streetlights as Public Charging Stations

Streetlights also offer major potential for integrating public EV charging, especially with the transition to LED lighting.

LED streetlights use much less energy than traditional lighting, opening up additional capacity on streetlight electrical circuits. Many cities are taking advantage of this opportunity.

Chicago is upgrading over 270,000 streetlights to LEDs and adding EV charging stations to approximately 3,500 lights. This will provide extensive new community charging access for residents.

Pole-mounted streetlight chargers can often deliver faster charging rates than utility poles due to higher electrical capacity. Level 2 chargers on streetlights may be able to provide 10-25 miles of range per hour.

DC fast charging installations on streetlights are still limited, but growth is expected. As more streetlights transition to LED and electrical capacity increases, 200+ kW fast chargers will become feasible.

Strategic Locations to Prioritize Charging Access

Installing chargers on poles and streetlights provides extensive flexibility in locating stations. But cities must still prioritize areas that currently lack adequate public charging.

Here are some of the locations that should be highest priority for equitable pole-mounted EV charging:

• Multi-unit dwellings – Apartments, condos, and other MURs that lack private charging. Poles nearby can provide dedicated resident charging.
• Underserved neighborhoods – Lower-income areas and communities with high shares of disadvantaged populations. Utility data can identify priority zones.
• Public housing – Many public housing properties lack charging access. Nearby poles provide opportunities.
• Workplaces – Employers that lack charging can allow employees to leverage adjacent poles. Retail locations also benefit.
• Transit hubs – Major bus and rail stations that connect underserved areas. Enables regional EV travel.
• Community centers – Locations like libraries, schools, and recreation centers where residents congregate.
• Curbside – Pilot programs for curbside pick-up/drop-off charging adjacent to businesses or MURs.

Installing chargers within a few blocks of underserved residents and businesses can provide accessible neighborhood charging, even if not directly out front.

Utility Partnerships Are Critical for Scaling Equitably

Greenlots and Portland General Electric partnership

To maximize the potential of poles and streetlights for equitable charging access, close coordination with local electric utilities is crucial.

Utilities own most utility poles and often own streetlights as well. They must approve all attachments and electrical connections.

Partnering with utilities provides ways to accelerate make-ready installations and share upgrade costs. Utilities can also assist with identifying priority charging locations in underserved communities.

For example, Greenlots and Portland General Electric launched a utility partnership focused on equitable pole-mounted charging. It prioritizes installations in multi-family housing in low-income neighborhoods.

Some utilities like SCE in California directly own and operate pole-mounted public charging networks in their service areas. Working with utilities unlocks their expertise.

State and federal grant funding focused on equitable charging access can also help cities work with utilities. Establishing dedicated programs aligned to utility priorities improves collaboration.

Overcoming Deployment Barriers

Pole-mounted charging still faces barriers to large-scale adoption. But growing experience is revealing ways to overcome the obstacles.

Permitting and regulatory delays remain one of the largest hurdles, but streamlined processes can help. Chicago synchronized permitting for streetlight EV charging with the larger lighting upgrade program.

Upfront make-ready costs can also be prohibitive. But lower-cost options like meter panel consolidation are advancing. And grants and utility funding can assist.

Utility pole load capacity needs to be assessed to avoid overloading. Strategic pole selection and installing higher-capacity poles can address constraints.

Confidence in utilization is critical for property owners and cities. Starting with smaller pilot deployments can help quantify usage and support expansion.

Combing charging installation with other pole upgrades like LED lighting transitions can significantly improve project economics.

Accelerating an Equitable Charging Transition

Pole-mounted EV charging represents one of the most cost-effective and scalable pathways toward urban charging equity. Unlocking the potential requires:

• Utility engagement to leverage expertise, assets, and funding.
• Streamlined permitting and installation processes to enable rapid scaling.
• Strategic deployment optimization based on utility data to prioritize underserved residents.
• Innovative approaches to reduce make-ready costs like meter consolidation and on-bill financing.
• Exploring new mounting locations such as traffic signal poles.
• Combing with other upgrades like LED streetlights to improve project economics.

With deliberate strategies and utility partnerships, cities can ensure equitable charging access for all residents. Pole and streetlight charging will play a critical role in completing America’s EV charging networks. Unlocking the vast potential will take vision, collaboration and commitment. But the benefits for underserved communities make the effort more than worthwhile.

Conclusion

Utility poles and streetlights represent the most promising near-term solutions for expanding equitable access to EV charging infrastructure in America’s cities. Strategically leveraging existing poles and lights can provide convenient public charging to underserved urban residents at scale.

Major gaps currently exist in equitable charging availability. Multi-unit housing residents, lower-income neighborhoods, and disadvantaged communities often lack adequate public and workplace charging options. This creates barriers to EV adoption.

Utility pole make-ready programs streamline adding level 2 chargers. Cities like Los Angeles are targeting thousands of pole-mounted stations citywide. Streetlights being upgraded to LED free up capacity for integrated charging. Chicago is adding chargers to over 3,500 LED streetlights.

Locating chargers on poles and lights near multi-family housing, transit hubs, community centers, and public housing can expand neighborhood access. Partnerships with utilities are critical to identify priority locations in underserved areas.

Despite barriers like permitting delays and upfront costs, experience is revealing ways to accelerate equitable pole and light charging. Streamlining installations, cost reduction strategies, and pilot projects can unlock the potential.

Urban charging equity will require extensive investments in dedicated hubs and high-speed chargers. But complementing buildouts with pole and streetlight charging provides immediate access for residents. It can play a vital role in the overall charging infrastructure landscape.

Equitable charging access is essential for broader EV adoption. If underserved urban populations lack adequate charging, the transition to electric mobility will be delayed. Pole and streetlight charging offers the possibility of inclusion for all communities.

Unlocking the vast potential requires collaboration between cities, utilities, community organizations and residents. With commitment to equity, pole-mounted charging can transform urban neighborhoods across America. Ensuring charging access for all ultimately benefits everyone through cleaner air, reduced carbon emissions and improved public health.

The coming decade will bring rapid EV growth. U.S. cities that proactively embrace pole and streetlight charging will lead the transition. They will demonstrate that equity and climate action can go hand in hand. Every city resident deserves clean transportation options. Strategic charging infrastructure planning can make that vision a reality.