Transportation Electrification

Electric Vehicles and Alternative Fuels


Jump To:

 
Electric Vehicles (EVs) EV Charging Stations Installing an EV Charger Alternative Fuels in our City Fleet

Transportation is responsible for 42% of total community greenhouse gas emissions in Raleigh.  All vehicles, from city fleet garbage trucks and transit buses to residents' personal vehicles, contribute to the large environmental impact of our car-dependent community. The City has been working to transition our fleet from traditional fossil fuels toward cleaner technology and electric vehicles (EVs). This also involves supporting opportunities for the private EV infrastructure, alternative clean fuel technology, public transit and more walkable and bikeable communities. For more  information on climate action related to transportation, check out Raleigh's Community Climate Action Plan

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

In 2009, Raleigh was the first of three cities throughout the U.S. to pilot the use of electric vehicle (EV) charging. Since then, the City continues to be a leader in the transition to clean fuel technology. Electric vehicles are a cleaner option than driving a standard gasoline vehicle as they produce no tailpipe emissions. Staff continue to work to identify and develop resources to provide assistance to stakeholders in researching and purchasing EVs and ensure equitable and sufficient charging capability for the greater Raleigh community. 

In 2019, the City completed a Transportation Electrification Study, which provided guidance on increasing number of electric vehicles and related charging locations. The City operates a diverse fleet of over 2,500 vehicles, ranging from police cars, fire trucks, transit buses and more. Recommendations include how the City can enhance equitable access to clean mobility and promote economic development. 

Following this study, the City has continued developing an EV Implementation Rollout Strategy. This plan will transform the City's fleet from traditional gasoline/diesel vehicles to electric over the next decade. The strategy includes opportunities and costs based on vehicle fleet replacement cycles and the needed EV charging infrastructure. Considerations for public charging station opportunities, alternative fuel options where electric is not yet feasible, and greenhouse gas emission estimations are also in process. 

For more information on these initiatives, please see our Fuel and Fleet Transformation Plan and our Vehicle Fleet Services.

EV Charging Stations

As EV adoption continues to grow across Raleigh, so does the need for adequate charging infrastructure. The City is leading the way by incorporating public charging at several community centers throughout Raleigh. Although the City will not become the main provider of EV charging stations, we continue to support private market adoption across the region. 

In support of EV charging expansion, the City co-authored the EV Ready Playbook in partnership with Advanced Energy. This "playbook" provides best practices to residents, developers, and businesses for EV infrastructure, including guidance on codes, permitting, hardware and software considerations and installation procedures. The playbook is designed to be adopted by other local governments across NC, establishing consistent infrastructure standards and furthering the growth of the entire EV market. The playbook is also one of many resources within the Sustainable Business Toolkit, a collection of resources and support programs to assist businesses, non-profits and organizations to take climate action. 

You can find the locations of public EV charging stations around Raleigh here.  

Is one of our charging stations not working? Report it with SeeClickFix. 

Installing an EV Charger

If you are interested in installing a charger at your home or business, we encourage you to review our EV Ready Playbook. It is important to consider location, charger types and other factors before beginning construction.

The City does require a permit for this installation, and you can find more information about that process here

Alternative Fuels in our City Fleet

The City has a long history of transitioning our fleet to cleaner fuels, as outlined in our 2016 Fuel and Fleet Transformation Plan. Currently, the City fleet has approximately 474 alternative fuel vehicles that use propane, compressed natural gas, biofuels (B5, B20, E85) and electric as fuel sources. As mentioned above, the City's EV Implementation Rollout Strategy is advancing our transition, researching the needs of various vehicle types the City uses to service the Raleigh community. 

In addition to the City's fleet, electrification efforts also include clean technologies for our transit bus system. The Raleigh Transit Authority has a goal to convert 75% of its fleet to renewable natural gas and the remainder to other advanced technologies. GoRaleigh has made great strides in this transition, adding of electric buses as well as the innovative Bio-Energy Recovery Project where the City will convert wastewater into renewable natural gas to fuel transit buses directly. 

For more information, please explore our Vehicle Fleet Services as well as the Sunflower Biofuel Production.

Contact

 

Jason Hardin
Jason.Hardin@raleighnc.gov

Subscribe

 
Lead Department:
Sustainability
Service Categories:
Climate Action