Policy Brief: Electric Vehicle Charging Considerations for Shared, Automated Fleets

Electric Vehicle Charging Considerations for Shared, Automated Fleets


Author: Matthew Goetz, Georgetown Climate Center

Contributors: Noel Crisostomo, California Energy Commission; Chris Nelder and Jonathan Walker (Formerly) Rocky Mountain Institute; Ron Kilcoyne, North County Transit District; Mollie D’Agostino, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis

The “three revolutions” in the transportation sector—automation, shared use, and electrification—have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If the advent of automated vehicles1 is to bring about the deep decarbonization of the transportation sector, these vehicles must be electric and largely shared.2 However, the proliferation of electric automated mobility could be hindered if electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the electric grid are not able to support an influx of high-mileage, high-usage automated electric vehicles (EVs). This brief identifies key considerations for stakeholders regarding the EV charging infrastructure necessary to enable and optimize an automated, electric, and shared mobility future.