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home departments Transportation FC Moves Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap

Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap#

Project Overview#

In 2018, the City of Fort Collins developed an Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Roadmap to support current and future EV adoption in our community. The Roadmap establishes a vision, goals, and clearly defined roles for City of Fort Collins Departments, the private sector, and the Fort Collins community. The Roadmap includes:

  • Action items for City efforts to inform policies and programs
  • Strategies for increasing and leveraging investment in EVs and charging infrastructure
  • EV charging station research and EV adoption forecasts to inform infrastructure needs and equitable placement locally and regionally
  • Best practices for education, outreach, and addressing barriers to EV adoption
  • Regional coordination strategies

Objectives#

  • Increase EV use in Fort Collins by providing the clarity and direction needed to advance Fort Collins to the next level of EV adoption
  • Help Fort Collins achieve their 2015 Climate Action Plan goals by reducing the carbon emissions and local air quality impacts of vehicles used within the city
  • Inform and align with ongoing planning efforts, including the ongoing City Plan and Transportation Master Plan update, and the upcoming analyses of the electric grid distribution system planned by Fort Collins Utilities
  • An EVRR Steering Committee/Working Group was formed in early 2019 from relevant internal and external stakeholder organizations for the purpose of implementing strategies from EVRR

View Frequently Asked Questions

Timeline#

  • Development began in early 2018 and ended October 2019
  • Implementation of EVRR began in 2019 and is currently underway

Opportunities for Stakeholder Engagement#

The City engaged with the public, local businesses, and other stakeholders to develop an EV Readiness Roadmap that is comprehensive, holistic, and serves all members of the Fort Collins community. Stakeholders were engaged through:

  • An Electric Vehicle Readiness Steering Committee composed of any relevant internal City department and external organizations
  • Engagement during community meetings
  • One-on-one interviews with select stakeholders
  • Email, web, and social media updates
  • A web-based community questionnaire

Electric Vehicle Readiness Steering Committee/Working Group Meeting Documents#

February 2018

April 2018

June 2018

September 2018

City of Fort Collins Owned and Maintained Charging Stations#

ChargePoint EV charging station at Mulberry Pool

Good news for EV lovers! The City of Fort Collins has replaced all the public charging stations throughout the community with brand new dual-port ChargePoint charging stations. The locations of the charging stations are:

  • Downtown Civic Center Parking Garage
  • Downtown Firehouse Alley Parking Garage
  • Mulberry Pool
  • Senior Center
  • South Transit Center
  • EPIC (Edora Pool Ice Center)
  • PRPA (Platte River Power Authority)

The charging stations cost drivers a flat rate of $1/hr.

For more information, contact: Dashiell Bubar-Hall, Transportation Planner, FC Moves at
dbubar-hall@fcgov.com, 970-416-4361

ChargePoint customer service at: 1-888-758-4389.

Want to Learn More About EVs?#

Northern Colorado Clean Cities is offering webinars and resources to help residents learn about electric vehicles. Visit northerncocleancities.org for more information.

Powering Electric Vehicles (EVs)#

Fort Collins Utilities is responsible for the electric grid that powers your EV. The benefits of electric vehicles closely align with City policy around reducing carbon emissions, providing highly reliable electric service and enhancing local economic health.

Visit Drive Electric Northern Colorado for more information about electric vehicles in Fort Collins, including charging stations, tax credits and other ways to get involved.

What is an EV?

An Electric Vehicle (EV) is a type of vehicle that runs on electricity, powered by rechargeable battery packs. 

There are two main types of EVs:

  • Battery electric vehicle - all power is stored in a battery.
  • Hybrid electric vehicles - have a down-sized internal combustion engine in addition to the battery.
What are the benefits to EVs?

EVs have several benefits. They are a more energy efficiency and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vehicles: 

  • EVs do not emit tailpipe pollutants and provide better local air quality.
  • The cost and savings of EVs are better than gasoline-powered vehicles as there are federal and state tax credits that offset the cost of purchasing an EV. EVs have minimal maintenance cost compared to traditional vehicles. Miles per gallon and miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh) cost comparison for a year shows significant ongoing cost savings while driving an EV.
  • There’s a feel-good factor by knowing that as an EV owner, the carbon footprint is less than a non-EV.
  • You won’t have to go to the gas station anymore because you can often charge from the convenience of your home or at public charging stations. 
Are EVs as safe as conventional vehicles?

Yes, EVs are held to the same national safety standards. Charging your EV is just as safe as charging your cell phone.

I'm interested in purchasing an EV. How do I get started?

Visit a dealership to get more information about tax credits, EV charging process, costs and savings. Visit www.driveelectricnoco.org for more information. 

Are there any rebates through the City for purchasing an EV?

The City does not have any rebates for purchasing an EV, but there are federal and state tax credits available.

I already drive an EV, what are other ways I can lower my carbon footprint?

Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon-based energy sources you use to charge your EV. You can reduce the amount of energy that comes from carbon sources through the following programs:

Where are public charging stations located around Fort Collins?

The City operates and maintains public charging stations (Level 2) at eight locations around Fort Collins:

  1. Civic Center Parking Structure – 144 N Mason St.
  2. Mulberry Pool – 424 W Mulberry St.
  3. EdoraPool Ice Center (EPIC) – 1801 Riverside Dr. 
  4. Fort Collins Senior Center – 1200 Raintree Dr.
  5. South Transit Center – 4915 Fossil Blvd.
  6. Platte River Power Authority – 2000 E Horsetooth
  7. Fort Collins Utilities – 700 Wood St.
  8. Firehouse Alley Parking Structure – 160 Chestnut St.

There are other charging stations that are not operated by the City. View an interactive map of all charging stations around Fort Collins at: https://chargehub.com/en/charging-stations-map.html 

*Please note, charging stations are listed here for awareness only. The status of individual chargers may vary.

What are the differences between Level 1, 2 and 3 chargers?
  • Level 1: Provides charging through a 120-volt plug. It doesn’t require installation of additional charging equipment and is the slowest type of charging. 
    Typical location: homes.  
    One hour of charging provides 2–5-mile range. 
  • Level 2: Provides charging through a 240-volt plug, just like the one you may have for an electric dryer. It requires installation of specialty charging equipment and may require an electrician. 
    Typical location: homes, public charging, at-work charging.  
    One hour of charging provides 10–20-mile range. 
  • DC Fast Charger or Level 3: Provides charging through 480-volt specialty plug and charging equipment. 
    Typical location: public charging stations.  
    20 minutes of charging provides 60–80-mile range. 
What is the benefit to installing a Level 2 charger in my home?

The ability to charge your EV at home is not only convenient, but, if you charge during off-peak hours, it’s also cheaper to charge at home than at a public charging station.  Many Level 2 chargers are connected via your home Wi-Fi, so that you can manage charging remotely.  

Approximately, how much does it cost to install a charger in my home?

The cost varies with different brands of chargers, labor and need for any electrical upgrades. On average, installation of a Level 2 charger at home may cost between $400 and $1000. If your EV home charging unit requires an increase in size of your electrical panel’s main breaker, please check with your electric utility for costs associated with modifying your electric service. 

Visit the Efficiency Works Store or Platte River Power Authority to find out if there are rebates on the Level 2 chargers that may help offset the cost.   

Do I need a building permit to install a charger in my home?

There is no requirement of a permit to install a Level 2 charger at home; however, if you need electrical work done, a licensed electrician can help you determine if any permits are required.

How will charging my EV at home affect my bill?

The charging cost associated with an EV is about the same or less than the cost required to operate an average central air conditioner or water heater for few hours. Charging during off-peak hours maximizes your cost savings. 

How much will charging at home cost?

Depends on whether you’re charging you vehicle during on-peak or off-peak hours.

For example, let’s say you are charging your electric vehicle during off-peak hours and it has a 24-kilowatt-hour size battery. If the electricity costs $0.07 per kilowatt-hour, then the cost to charge your EV at home would be $1.68 (assuming the battery is fully depleted). 

When is the best time to charge my EV?

The best time to charge an EV is during off-peak hours as the rates are three times less than on-peak hours.  

You can find more information on Time-of-Day (TOD) at Fort Collins Utilities Residential Electric Rates.