Electrifying our transportation system is a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move Oregon towards a cleaner future. Transitioning to electric vehicles — including e-bikes, cars and trucks, public transit, delivery vans and long-haul semis — is a complex effort that calls for strong public-private partnerships. It will also require significant public investments in public charging infrastructure.
ODOT’s role is to make connections between the many groups needed to build and expand Oregon’s electric transportation infrastructure. We help set a clear vision for that future and existing charging infrastructure, ensuring that it is equitable, reliable and meets rural and urban needs.
In practice, those connections take the shape of funding and education. ODOT:
- Uses available state and federal funding to bolster public EV charging infrastructure, leveraging partnerships with private industry.
- Uses our staff expertise to inform EV charging strategies and policy recommendations.
- Educates Oregon’s drivers and stakeholders about the benefits of EVs.
Our goals are to triple the number of EVs on our roads by 2023, and expand statewide public EV charging infrastructure by a minimum of 10% by 2025. We’re making progress on those goals, and we recognize that much more needs to be done to rapidly expand equitable access to electric mobility use and necessary charging and refueling infrastructure.
What We're Working On
ODOT’s transportation electrification efforts have primarily focused on light-duty vehicles, which are “ready for the market,” meaning they are the most widely available. We are also considering the charging infrastructure needs of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, like freight and delivery trucks, and transit and school buses. And we are researching the opportunities for hydrogen fuel cell EVs, and electric micro-mobility like e-scooters, e-bikes and e-trikes.
Transportation Electrification Infrastructure Needs Analysis 2021 (TEINA)
The 2020-21 TEINA study examined Oregon’s public EV charging infrastructure needs over the next 15 years. The results: we’ll need a sharp increase in available charging near and long term; investments must be made in both rural and urban areas; and private-public partnerships between state government agencies, utilities, nonprofits and private charging companies will be important.
2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for EV Charging
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in 2021, will provide $52 million over five years to ODOT for Oregon EV charging infrastructure investments. The funding comes from the
National EV Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program, which has specific requirements for how the money can be used and requires ODOT to engage with multiple stakeholder groups about charging needs.
Read more about
Oregon’s Five-year EV Charging Infrastructure Roadmap to find out how ODOT will implement the funding.
TEINA 2022: Zero Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Deployment Strategy
The results of the TEINA study paint a clear picture of Oregon’s future public EV charging infrastructure needs. The second phase of the TEINA study will create an actionable plan to meet those needs.
Starting in 2022, ODOT will refine a statewide strategy for light-duty vehicle ZEV charging infrastructure deployment, and create user-friendly modeling and mapping tools for local planners. This next phase of TEINA work will also incorporate the state plan for federal NEVI funding.
Visit the TEINA webpage to stay up to date on charging infrastructure strategies and public meeting dates for the study’s advisory committee.
Hydrogen Pathway Study
Hydrogen may play a critical role in decarbonizing transportation. ODOT’s Hydrogen Pathway Study — a follow-up to the TEINA study — looked at how to prepare Oregon for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles over the next 15 years, and outlined a set of phased recommendations through 2035.
Electric Micromobility in Oregon Study
In addition to electrifying cars, truck and buses, ODOT works to reduce the number of miles driven in Oregon by encouraging alternative modes of transportation such as biking and walking. Electric micromobility devices — such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and others —improve mental and physical health, and reduce emissions from transportation. In recent years, more Oregonians are choosing e-micromobility devices for their commute, errands, or moving goods and freight.
Given these factors, we wanted to understand how to grow e-micromobility use in our state. So in 2022 we studied e-micromobility’s benefits, barriers preventing a faster adoption rate, and ways to surmount those barriers.
Collaborations with State Agencies
Every Mile Counts
ODOT, together with Oregon Departments of Energy, Environmental Quality, and Land Conservation and Development, created the
Every Mile Counts initiative in 2019. The goal is to align long-term commitments and actions across the agencies to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. Equity is a priority and each agency woks to ensure their actions do not result in negative impacts to, or place additional burdens on, traditionally disadvantaged communities.
Zero Emission Vehicle Interagency Working Group (ZEVIWG)
ZEVIWG was founded in 2017 by ODOT, the Oregon Departments of Energy, Environmental Quality, Administrative Services, and the Public Utility Commission to collaborate on accelerating zero emission vehicle use in Oregon. The workgroup focuses on increasing Oregonian’s access to ZEVs and charging infrastructure, and raising public awareness of ZEV goals, benefits, and use cases.
Oregoin’ Electric
Oregoin’ Electric is an accessible, centralized hub for information and resources about electric vehicles. The website is a collaboration between Oregon state agencies and utilities to provide outreach and education for the public.
Future Work
Community EV Charging Rebate Program
The Climate Office is developing a community EV charging rebate program that will provide cash incentives for public and private entities to install
level 2 EV charging in parking areas, and near multi-unit dwellings. Dubbed “Plugging in Oregon,” the program’s rebates will cover about 75% of the cost of charger equipment and installation. The majority of funds will be spent in communities identified as “priorities” for more accessible public EV charging.
Federal EV Charging Grant Program
In addition to the federal NEVI program EV charging funding mentioned above, Oregon (and other states) can apply for additional EV charging grant funding from the federal government. Eligible funding recipients include state and local entities, Metro Planning Organizations, and Tribal governments. More information about this grant program is expected from the federal government in fall 2022.
Medium and Heavy-duty Zero Emission Vehicles
ODOT is collaborating with the Department of Environmental Quality on a medium- and heavy-duty ZEV incentives report to support adoption, due to be completed by December 2022. This effort follows the completion of a
Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-emission Vehicle Action Plan that includes Oregon. Details from the plan development process can be found
here.
More information
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