WASHINGTON, D. C. (Tuesday, March 27, 2018) ––Being green will become easier in Maryland. A consortium of utility companies and allied entities in Maryland have announced an ambitious $104 million program to boost and expand the total number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the state to 24,000, creating the “second-largest EV charging network in the country.” Equally go-getting, Maryland hopes to have an underpinning of 300,000 electric vehicles on its roadways within seven years. It is a lofty goal, especially given the fact that Maryland had fewer than 10,000 electric vehicles on the road during 2017.

As of 2017, Maryland ranked ninth in the nation in the number of charging stations for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), or electric vehicles (EV), notes AAA Mid-Atlantic, and Virginia ranked 15^th among the states. Simply put, public charging stations provide EV owners and buyers the flexibility to “top up” their EV’s battery while they shop, attend events or sightsee, AAA Mid-Atlantic observes. Interest in electric vehicles among American consumers is surging.  It now rivals that for full-size pickup trucks, according to a survey by AAA. More than 30 million Americans hope to buy one. Electric vehicles are also becoming more popular in the Washington metro area, says the Transportation Planning Board’s (TPB) latest Vehicle Census.

For perspective, there are now about 4.1 million registered vehicles across the Greater Washington region, notes the TPB. That’s up from up from 3.89 million registered vehicles in the region in 2014. In 2016, the region had 4,200 electric vehicles, according to the TPB Vehicle Census. Statewide, Maryland boasts 9,400 registered zero-emission vehicles on its roads, compared to “4,058 EVs registered in Virginia,” as of 2016.  Even so, the Washington metro region boasts 120,000 registered hybrid vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The EV inventory includes 50 models available for purchase. 

 “Both Maryland and Virginia are developing plans to persuade more area consumers to switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. Expanding the charging network will expedite the flow of EV travel in the region,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “As the overall number of electric vehicles or EVs proliferates across the region and the nation, charging stations are also becoming more common at workplaces to allow recharging during the day. Some locations, such as those at shopping malls or other businesses, offer free EV charging as a way to entice consumers.”

Under its ZEV program, Maryland has a goal of having 60,000 ZEVs on the road within the next two years, 2020, and five times that number seven years from now in 2025, according the Maryland Department of the Environment. Some researchers predict by 2025, 35 percent of all cars sold in the United States will be electric, 25 percent of which will be hybrids, and 10 percent pure EVs, notes AAA. Of course, the charging time for an electric car varies with the car, the size and type of battery, the temperature and various other factors, explains AAA. At this juncture, Maryland houses “1,200 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations,” with the bulk of them spread across the “Washington suburbs and the Baltimore region.”

            Presently, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) is weighing the public EV charging network proceeding, which was filed January 19, 2018. The filing by utility companies, environmental groups and charging station companies proposes the creation of a fully operational “statewide electric vehicle portfolio.” Plugged-in consumers hope to save on gas. “Maryland is one of eight states signed on to the Zero-Emission Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding, a coordinated action to boost the adoption of EVs,” according to GTM Research. “In 2013 the state committed to a target of 300,000 zero-emission cars on the road by 2025. The year before, however, it had only 609 electric vehicles. At the end of June 2017, it had 9,400. In order to see continued growth, Maryland will need the infrastructure to support additional cars.”

If created, the “statewide electric vehicle portfolio” would “make Maryland a leader in advancing EVs on the East Coast,” proponents say. In 2017, charging station availability has grown to more than 15,000 locations across the United States, observes AAA. Maryland ranks ninth in the nation with the total number of charging stations and Virginia ranks 15th in the United States. There were 77,754 hybrids and 3,178 electric plug-in vehicles in Maryland, according to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s 2014 Annual Report. “The average growth rate of registered EVs in Virginia from 2008 to 2016 is 35 percent.”

A 2017 AAA survey shows more than 30 million Americans are likely to buy an electric vehicle for their next car. With rising sales, longer ranges, lower costs and no exhaust notes, AAA predicts a strong future for electric vehicles that are propelled by an electric motor or motors and powered by a rechargeable battery.

Concern for the environment remains the primary motivating factor for electric vehicle shoppers, but AAA also found that lower long-term costs, desire for the latest technology and access to car pool lanes are all influential factors. With their extended range and flexibility, hybrid vehicles are also desirable to Americans, with nearly one-third (32 percent) likely to buy the gasoline- and battery-powered alternative.

Beyond electric and hybrid vehicles, AAA’s survey found that fuel economy remains a major purchase consideration for all U.S. drivers, with 70 percent rating it as an important factor in selecting any vehicle – equal to the importance of the cost, crash rating and performance – ahead of safety technology (50%), brand (48%), style, color and design (46%) and smartphone connectivity (34%). 

Meanwhile, local municipalities, employers, retail businesses, EV equipment manufacturers and others have applied for monies to install some 15,000 public charging stations. Major U.S. metropolitan areas that have been targeted include: Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, CA; Austin, TX; Detroit, MI; New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Redmond, WA; and Charlotte, NC.  In Canada, cities planning to install significant numbers of EV charging stations include Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Maryland has 1,284 publicly accessible electric charging stations; Virginia has 1,008; and the District houses 91, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center. The Maryland PSC is asked to render its decision by May 18, 2018, as the state’s four main utilities and allies make a big push to expand the number of charging stations. With a focus on the future, AAA lists publicly accessible U.S. charging station locations to the online TripTik^® Travel Planner and AAA Mobile app, where there has been steady increase in the prevalence and capabilities of EV charging. For example, back in March of 2014, the AAA Maps site listed more than 7,500 public electric vehicle charging stations in the U.S. and Canada.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com