A Pathway for Commercial and Residential Tenants to Plug into the EV Revolution

Thirty-nine percent of Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector – making it the largest contributor in the state. Accelerating electric vehicle adoption is critical for meeting Oregon’s emission reduction goals and fighting climate change.

Governor Brown’s Executive Order 17-21 included a goal to have at least 50,000 registered zero emission vehicles on Oregon roads by the end of 2020. Senate Bill 1044 in 2019 pushed the goal even further – aiming for 250,000 ZEVs by 2025. While we’re on our way to meeting that goal with more than 31,000 registered electric vehicles as of late March 2020, we still have a long way to go.

One of the barriers for potential electric vehicle owners is availability of charging infrastructure. While access to charging continues to improve in Oregon, with more than 1,600 public charging locations and growing, the ability to charge at home and at work is an important factor affecting the rate of EV adoption, especially for renters. The Oregon Department of Energy estimates that more than 80 percent of EV charging occurs at home – but for many renters, charging at home isn’t an option.

Thanks to legislation passed in 2017 (HB 2510 and HB 2511), commercial and residential tenants in Oregon can ask their landlord for approval to install their own electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The bills establish a right for renters to install EV charging stations, both in commercial and residential leases, as long as the property has at least one vehicle parking space per unit. Renters pay for and maintain the projects and must meet all other requirements specified in the bills.

Are you a renter that wants to join the EV revolution? Or a business leasing commercial space that wants to offer your employees and customers charging options? Talk to your landlord! There may even be incentives available to help with costs.

Learn more about the benefits of EVs, incentives, and charging options.