California Bill Allows Renters To Install Electric-Car Charging Stations

Governor Brown’s goal of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2025 just got a boost. Assembly Bill (AB) 2565 will allow renters to install electric-car charging stations.

The amount of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads more than doubled in the last year. With over 220,000 electric vehicles on US roads, about ⅓ of them are on the streets of California. As EVs become more prolific thanks to them being more environmentally friendly, less expensive to operate, and more of a treat to drive, these numbers are increasing every day.

Even though there are thousands of charging locations across California, the continued growth marks the need for more charging stations, and more charging stations will stimulate more growth.

With the goal of 1.5 million zero emission vehicles by 2025 closing in, and article in Capitol Weekly reports: “That’s why the governor should sign Assembly Bill (AB) 2565 into law. Authored by Assembly member Al Murastuchi, the legislation has now successfully passed both houses of the State Legislature with bipartisan support.”

Rental apartment restrictions have become a particular hindrance to continued electric car growth — many keep tenants from installing EV charging stations. This problem affects business and individual tenants. Both individuals and businesses need more freedom to install EV charging stations even if they rent.

Richard Lowenthal, the Chief Technical Officer of ChargePoint, which he co-founded in 2007, writes in Capitol Weekly: “AB 2565 is vital for expanding access to EV charging stations around the state. The legislation aims to address barriers for deploying stations in leased buildings, bringing access to charging stations to the more than 40% of Californians who live in multifamily housing.”

Lowenthal continues explaining the problem: “The deployment of EV charging infrastructure is increasing but not keeping up with today’s EV adoption rates. In 2012, the ratio of EVs to charging ports was about 7 to 1. As EV sales skyrocketed, the gap widened. In 2013, the ratio grew to about 8 to 1. To successfully grow the EV industry, it is imperative our legislators introduce and support policies that implement the installation of charging stations throughout California.”

The attraction of having EV charging stations at the workplace and business is well accepted. The problem remains that Californians who rent their homes or businesses run into obstacles. AB 2565 will change this, giving renter more rights as long as they pay.

The core issue that goes hand in hand with individual progress is that, with this legislation becoming law, not only will the EV industry succeed more easily, California will more likely reach its environmental goals. Clean air, less smog, less soot, less carbon monoxide, less burning of hydrocarbons and other toxic substances, fewer particulates being released into the air, and fewer CO2 emission being released into the atmosphere. This legislation is progress. I hope it spreads to others states around the country.

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Image Credit: ChargePoint