January 14, 2025
Funded by the US Department of Energy Smart charging technical assistance and designation program is now available in all 50 states. Charging Smart provides free technical assistance to help local governments accelerate the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure.
By removing barriers to electric vehicle deployment, participating communities can unlock economic development, cleaner air and other local benefits while maintaining project safety. Local governments can earn Bronze, Silver or Gold designations, gaining national recognition of their status as an EV-friendly community.
Charging Smart initially launched in a pilot phase in 2023, providing services to local governments primarily in the South and Midwest, but also in Colorado, Connecticut and Southern California. Nine cities in Minnesota were the first to earn Charging Smart designations in 2024. Eden Prairie, Falcon Heights, Faribault, Inver Grove Heights, Oakdale, Roseville and St. James, Minnesota earned the bronze designation, while Hopkins and La Crescent, Minnesota earned silver. These local governments have updated their permitting and inspection practices, revised zoning regulations, and taken other measures to increase accessibility to EV charging infrastructure. Now, cities and counties in every U.S. state can reap the benefits of participating.
Charging Smart and its sister program, SolSmart, “really served as a good catalyst for us to make our permitting process faster and more efficient,” said Jason Ludwigson, sustainability coordinator for the town of La Crescent. “The programs have helped us reduce barriers to entry, especially for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and improve community connections.”
“The national launch of the Charging Smart program will help communities simplify electric vehicle charging implementation procedures, such as permitting and inspection processes,” said Austin Brown, director of the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office. “This will ease the burden on local governments, reduce the overall costs and timelines for deploying EV infrastructure, and promote access to charging in the U.S., reducing costs for families and pollution for everyone.”
Charging Smart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), with the Great Plains Institute (GPI) serving as the project’s lead partner. Other partners include RMI, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Forth, the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), EVNoire, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC), North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) and eight Coalitions for Clean Cities and Communities (CC&C) across the country.
“The national launch of Charging Smart is an opportunity for all local governments in the US, from big cities to small rural towns, to deploy practices tailored to their specific needs,” said Ed Gilliland, senior director of strategic initiatives at IREC . “The program is based on a well-vetted menu of 150 specific actions and provides locations with a clear path to achieve status and become adept at facilitating EV growth and electric vehicle charging.”
Charging Smart is part of DOE Energy ready set of programs that help local governments strategically manage the expansion of distributed energy technologies, including EV charging infrastructure, solar energy and distributed wind energy. All Energy Ready programs provide free technical assistance to local governments across the U.S., helping them reduce administrative burdens, save staff time, ensure safety and increase economic development associated with these technologies.
“Transport electrification has the potential to be nothing short of a revolution, even if it brings challenges. The Charging Smart program can help any community meet this challenge by combining expert technical assistance, resources and peer networks. GPI has seen the impact of our work in the pilot phase, with 11 cities in the Midwest earning the first Charging Smart designation. We are grateful for the DOE’s continued support and are excited to expand the program nationwide with our partners!” says Mackenzie Love, AICP, Senior Program Manager and Transportation Planner at the Great Plains Institute.
For more information about Charging Smart, including how eligible communities can sign up, visit ChargingSmart.org. In addition, the program is offering a free Introduction to Charging Smart webinar on February 4. Register here.
Tags: Ministry of Energy, EV charging
