Huntington Beach new development charge station requirements

[richard]

Huntington Beach City Councilmember Joe Shaw is proposing that Huntington Beach "require new residential, commercial, and industrial projects to have a minimum number of electric vehicle-capable parking spaces."

From the HB Independent:
http://articles.hbindependent.com/2013-07-12/news/tn-hbi-me-0718-council-preview-20130712_1_downtown-issues-council-members-councilman-joe-shaw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Looking to make Huntington Beach a more electric car-friendly city, Councilman Joe Shaw is asking the director of planning and building to prepare a resolution that sets a minimum amount of charging stations in new residential, commercial and industrial developments.
Shaw said on Thursday that the agenda item aims to bridge the gap between a pending state assembly bill that would require such charging stations and the city's requirements."

The Council meets tonight at 6pm at:
2000 E Main St
http://www.ci.huntington-beach.ca.us/government/directions-to-city-hall.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

City Calendar entry:
http://www.ci.huntington-beach.ca.us/residents/calendar/calendar_event.cfm?ID=5887&day=15&month=7&year=2013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is the first new electric car centered action by the Council since they approved a contract to Chargepoint to install 12 stations around the city:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5560" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I only just heard about this over the weekend. Not sure how the rest of the council may react. I expect the mayor (pro-tem), and maybe four other councilmembers to be for this requirement (including Joe Shaw). That gives the resolution a good chance.

I plan to attend to listen and lend support if needed. Please join in if you're interested.

If anyone has facts or tips regarding supporting this kind of legislation, please share. I'd love to hear any:
1. Facts regarding charging station impact on business (good or bad)
2. Examples of other cities with similar legislation
3. Anything that you think may help..

Thanks.

 

[shortcircuit]

Thanks for the notice. I live in Huntington Beach and have charged-up at 3 of the 6 ChargePoint locations. It's great that the city is progressive on the EV front-- much more so than our neighbors. Unfortunately I won't be able to make the meeting, which is going to start in just 30 minutes. My comments, although not very useful, would be:

1. Extend free charging beyond end of 2013 (I hear the current free L2 charging is scheduled to end this year).
2. Encourage commercial developments to add chargers at existing locations (not just new developments). For example, Five Points, Seacliff Village, etc. This benefits businesses in the vicinity since EV drivers are likely to linger around and browse/eat while their cars are charging.

Please keep up posted on the outcome of the meeting. Thanks!

 

[richard]

Update:

I checked with Joe Shaw and he also thought it would "pass easily", but he encouraged support.

I was one of the last to speak. Just prior to my turn, Planning Commissioner Mark Bixby spoke in favor of the resolution. Turns out he helped bring it to Joe Shaw. Mark has noticed a mini boom in planned development in HB, and has been checking with large residential developments to see how many EV-capable spaces they're allotting. In some cases, the developers are planning for some. But with the city currently requiring zero of these spaces, Mark thought it was time to step up with a requirement.

These were my three minute comments:
--

Good evening Mayor Boardman and distinguished City Council. My name is Richard Kelly. I'm an HB resident, a plug-in vehicle driver, and volunteer president of the driver-oriented nonprofit, Plug In America. I'm here to speak in favor of Item 22 which concerns EV-capable parking spaces.

I'd like to start with a quick overview of the plug-in vehicle landscape. Currently there are 13 vehicle models being sold in showrooms, for example at the auto dealers here in Huntington Beach. Last month plug-in vehicles reached a milestone, surpassing 100,000 vehicles sold. Nationwide, plug-ins still account for a low percentage of sales, as sales really started in quantity again only a few years ago in 2010. However, plug-in sales are growing at a higher rate than car sales in general. Also, California has the nation's second highest penetration rate of plug-in vehicles, and are projected to reach 5.4% of total light-duty vehicle sales by 2017.

Bottom line is that there will be a time soon (maybe it's already here) when every business and apartment complex in Huntington Beach will have regular customers that are plug-in drivers.

This city _wants_ EV owners visiting, shopping, and living here.

To paraphrase a buildings.com study, "EV owners tend to have a higher than average household income, reside in urban or suburban areas, and the majority of them are in their 40s. This market is technology-savvy, politically active, environmentally sensisive and willing to pay a premium for convenience.. Because it is so important for an EV driver to have access to charge stations, providing them this amenity not only attracts them to your building, but keeps them coming back."

It's in all our best interests to help smooth the way for these vehicles.

Plug-ins promote cleaner air which is so important in this tourist destination we all live in.

I've heard stories of drivers buying these vehicles, taking them home, and encountering apartment complexes, or landlords, that are not equipped to handle their new car.

Setting up infrastructure after the fact is usually more expensive than it is planned for in the beginning. Electricians have a saying. "Laying conduit up front is cheap. Redigging a trench is not." It is very smart to lay some cheap conduit now so that when the need arises, it is cheap and easy to pull wire and install the necessary charge station.

I'd like to commend the Council for its consideration and approval of Councilperson Shaw's forward-thinking resolution.

Thank you.

--

When Item 22 came up, Councilperson Joe Shaw explained that he feels that Huntington Beach is known as a "first adopter" city. His resolution would not require charging stations to actually be installed, but would just lay the infrastructure (Joe mentioned that the requirement would include pulling wire, but I understand EV-capable really only means laying conduit and setting aside breaker space). Joe said that CA State Asssembly Bill 1092 (http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov:80/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1092" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false would soon require that EVSE standards be made mandatory in the CA Green Building code by 2017. He felt there was no reason to not get ahead of this and move forward now.

Mayor Pro Tem Matt Harper repeated some points that he'd been making all night about other items. He felt this proposal was "not market-driven, was heavy handed, and smacked of socialism in Huntington Beach." This drew a chuckle from Mayor Connie Boardman.

Councilperson Dave Sullivan asked Mark Bixby to verify that this proposal was agreeable to the Building Industry Association. Mark responded that it was, and that the proposal was by no means socialistic.

Councilperson Joe Carchio related that developers were generally happy to comply with EVSE requirements that are known up front, rather than having the city pass an ordnance after development is complete.

Mayor Connie Boardman spoke that she felt this was a smart amenity for developers to offer. She agreed that residents of Huntington Beach are first adopters, it is smart for the city to attract young urban professionals, and if the BIA didn't have an objection to the measure, why should she?

Joe Shaw moved that the resolution be passed. Joe Carchio seconded. The motion passed 5-1 with Matt Harper the only "no", and one absence (Councilperson Jill Hardy).

--

So the next step is for the City Attorney and the Planning department to draft legislation that requires a minimum number of EV-capable parking spaces for new residential, commercial, and industrial developments.

Later in the parking lot I met briefly with Mark Bixby, who was charging his Plug-in Prius at the city's Chargepoint station.

I want to thank Mark for spotting this opportunity and bringing it to Joe. I want to thank Joe for championing it and getting it passed.

Hope this was of interest to anyone with the opportunity to pass similar legislation in other cities.

 

[richard]

Thanks for the notice. I live in Huntington Beach and have charged-up at 3 of the 6 ChargePoint locations. It's great that the city is progressive on the EV front-- much more so than our neighbors. Unfortunately I won't be able to make the meeting, which is going to start in just 30 minutes. My comments, although not very useful, would be:

1. Extend free charging beyond end of 2013 (I hear the current free L2 charging is scheduled to end this year).
2. Encourage commercial developments to add chargers at existing locations (not just new developments). For example, Five Points, Seacliff Village, etc. This benefits businesses in the vicinity since EV drivers are likely to linger around and browse/eat while their cars are charging.

Please keep up posted on the outcome of the meeting. Thanks!

The last time I spoke at the Council was in favor of those same Chargepoint stations. We also use them regularly.

I haven't really thought of HB as being very progressive with EVs. I guess I'm comparing it with cities like Santa Monica, not its neighbors, which may not be fair.

I have to disagree with you on #1. Back when the stations were installed, I was all in favor of free. However with the number of cars on the road, the number of stations we have is often inadequate.

Often we find the stations (Bella Terra especially) blocked by mild PHEVs like the PiP. I believe turnover would increase by charging a nominal amount.

Also, leaving the HB City Hall yesterday, I noticed a black Tesla Model S driving up. There was no more business scheduled that evening. City Hall employees report often seeing vehicles charging outside of normal business hours. Are these "power poachers" (nearby residents who are too cheap to use their own electricity?) Sadly, people will abuse a free "commons". Since this type of abuse can block a station needed by a stranded driver, I would also like to see a per-hour rate applied in this case.

Your point #2 is great and I agree.

 

[TomT]

Agreed. Free is simply a bad idea on many fronts. It is also not sustainable.

I have to disagree with you on #1. Back when the stations were installed, I was all in favor of free. However with the number of cars on the road, the number of stations we have is often inadequate.

 

[gigglehertz]

This is a fantastic, common sense, low cost solution. I'm going to see if I can get such language inserted into my city's building codes. Conduit and breaker space is nothing, let the future renter/condo owner pay to do the rest, win-win.

I also agree that free is not sustainable.

 

[shortcircuit]

1. Extend free charging beyond end of 2013 (I hear the current free L2 charging is scheduled to end this year).

I have to disagree with you on #1. Back when the stations were installed, I was all in favor of free. However with the number of cars on the road, the number of stations we have is often inadequate.

Often we find the stations (Bella Terra especially) blocked by mild PHEVs like the PiP. I believe turnover would increase by charging a nominal amount.

Richard, first of all thank you for attending the meeting on behalf of us HB EV owners! That was an excellent speech.

You're correct that the number of EV owners is increasing. I've noticed the Bella Terra spots are often taken (and one was broken as of two days ago). Interestingly the two L2 spots at the popular HB Pier have always been available when I've driven there or ridden my bike there. In hindsight perhaps more units should have been placed where the demand would be higher and fewer where the demand is lower.

The HB ChargePoint equipment and installation were funded by state and federal grants, not the city of HB. I don't know how much it costs the city in electricity to run them, but I expect it is minimal. If the city begins to charge EV owners to use them, most residents would chose to simply charge at home where it is cheaper. This would mean they may not spend as much time at the shopping center. Thus they would generate less revenue for the city in sales tax from purchases.

In other words, even though there is an upfront cost, it could be profitable for both the city and for businesses to install chargers at convenient locations AND to have operation of those chargers subsidized (in part or in whole) by city and businesses. The cost to them would be recovered by additional purchases made by these captive electricity consumers with "higher than average household income". Yes, I'm being a bit of a Pollyanna here but it sounds like a win-win for consumers, businesses and city.

 

[richard]

Richard, first of all thank you for attending the meeting on behalf of us HB EV owners! That was an excellent speech.

No problem. Thanks.

You're correct that the number of EV owners is increasing. I've noticed the Bella Terra spots are often taken (and one was broken as of two days ago). Interestingly the two L2 spots at the popular HB Pier have always been available when I've driven there or ridden my bike there. In hindsight perhaps more units should have been placed where the demand would be higher and fewer where the demand is lower.

The HB ChargePoint equipment and installation were funded by state and federal grants, not the city of HB. I don't know how much it costs the city in electricity to run them, but I expect it is minimal. If the city begins to charge EV owners to use them, most residents would chose to simply charge at home where it is cheaper. This would mean they may not spend as much time at the shopping center. Thus they would generate less revenue for the city in sales tax from purchases.

In other words, even though there is an upfront cost, it could be profitable for both the city and for businesses to install chargers at convenient locations AND to have operation of those chargers subsidized (in part or in whole) by city and businesses. The cost to them would be recovered by additional purchases made by these captive electricity consumers with "higher than average household income". Yes, I'm being a bit of a Pollyanna here but it sounds like a win-win for consumers, businesses and city.

My usage of these stations mirrors yours. I find myself using the Bella Terra station often and the HB Pier not at all. Yet the same number of chargers were placed in each site.

These charging stations are currently free for drivers, but this is only supposed to be through the end of December 2013. Toward the end of this year, the Planning Commissioner plans to ask city staff for utilization statistics. If I get this data, I'll share it here.

Probably best to wait for the usage statistics before deciding that the number of stations at HB Pier is wrong, because who knows, tourists may be using those.

At this point, a decision will likely me made as to charge fees or not. My personal preference at this point is to charge as needed to manage usage (low enough to encourage use, but high enough to get people to move to another spot when done charging), not necessarily try to pay off the stations or have this be a cash cow. If I have a choice between shopping at Costco Fountain Valley with no J1772 chargers, and Costco HB with two Chargepoints, I'll choose HB even if there's a nominal charge.

Hopefully there will also be an opportunity to also show that more stations are needed at Bella Terra. I've mentioned that a combination of Level 1 (outlets) and Level 2 might be more cost-effective, yet nicely serve the PHEVs that want to plug in. A Plug-In Prius, for example, could charge using Level 1 from 0-100% in 3 hours, or the time it takes to have a nice dinner and see a movie.

Maybe what we can do is compile a list of desired locations? So often, vendors propose number and locations of chargers (like ChargePoint did in 2011) We should turn this around and have drivers propose a plan. We can then take it to the Planning Commission.

 

[richard]

Update from Huntington Beach Wave 7/18/2013 "Briefs":


New Developments to Require Electric Vehicle Parking
New developments in Huntington Beach will soon be required to provide a certain number of parking spaces for electric vehicles.

The City Council voted Monday to draft a resolution that will require residential, commercial and industrial developments to install electric vehicle wiring during the building of all new projects.

"(Developers) were pretty happy with this," said Councilman Joe Carchio. "They thought it'd be easier and less expensive if they did it at the beginning than if they'd have to do it after the fact."

The council voted 5-1 with Councilman Matthew Harper dissenting, and Councilwoman Jill Hardy absent.

Installing charging stations early on in development will also help attract young urban professionals to Huntington Beach - exactly the type of residents many new developments are hoping to bring, Mayor Connie Boardman said.

- Annie Zak

The reporter was off on one detail. The requirement will not be to install wiring, but instead conduit and breaker space, if I understood correctly. That is what would make a parking space "EV-capable".

 

[shortcircuit]

Maybe what we can do is compile a list of desired locations? So often, vendors propose number and locations of chargers (like ChargePoint did in 2011) We should turn this around and have drivers propose a plan. We can then take it to the Planning Commission.

Good idea, Richard. OK, here's my first cut at desirable locations in HB for new charging stations:

HB Central Library (that's a no-brainer)
Seacliff Village Shopping Center
Five Points Shopping Center
Huntington Harbor Mall Shopping Center
Newland Shopping Center
Golden West College
Target plaza shopping center @ MacDonald Dr. and Beach Blvd.
Brookhurst & Adams shopping center
HB Central Park

 

[garygid]

Free parking is not sustainable either, but is generally subsidized
by various parts of the community.

If charging points were each able to serve 4 or 6 parking spaces,
and plug sharing was encouraged by clear "I have enough" signals
from the car (settable by the driver, usually appropriate for his
needs), then access might not be such a large problem.

Perhaps something like the GID-Meter that says "FULL" (full enough
to allow others to unplug the car and use the charging station) at
a user-settable energy level might be/become a popular "Gizmo"?