Charging Smart
Supporting Local Governments to Achieve Equitable Access to Electric Mobility
What is Charging Smart
Charging Smart is a technical assistance and certification program to support local governments and recognize their progress in setting and achieving equitable EV-readiness goals, streamlining regulatory practices, and facilitating the adoption of electric vehicles and charging stations.
As a partner in the Charging Smart program, Drive Clean Colorado can offer free technical assistance to local Colorado governments, providing tools to facilitate and speed deployment of electric vehicles.
Why Join Charging Smart?
The Charging Smart program offers numerous benefits for participating communities. That includes:
FREE technical assistance
Supporting community-designed economic development and sustainability goals, allowing local governments to better manage growth, cut red tape, and improve use of limited taxpayer resources
Facilitating development of EV charging on public properties, providing clean transportation options for staff, and lowering municipality fuel costs
Increasing the number of EVs in the community, which brings numerous other economic and health benefits, including lower emissions, improved air quality, and reduced noise pollution
Charging Smart Partners
Charging Smart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Great Plains Institute (GPI) serves as lead partner, and other partners include the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC), RMI, Drive Clean Colorado, Virginia Clean Cities, Long Beach Clean Cities, and North Central Texas Council of Governments. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office.
Get Awarded For Your EV Readiness
Local governments participating in the Charging Smart program can public recognition of their status as an EV-friendly community. By achieving certain metrics, local governments can be awarded the following Bronze, Silver or Gold designations:
Bronze
Bronze designees have
successfully standardized
EV charging infrastructure
permitting, identified zoning
restrictions, and discussed
collaboration with utility
providers.
Silver
In addition to completing
all criteria for Bronze
designation, Silver designees
have successfully completed
a fleet analysis, installed a
public charger, and changed
zoning requirements to
allow the easier and cheaper
deployment of EV chargers.
Gold
In addition to completing all
criteria for Bronze and Silver
designation, Gold designees
have purchased EVs for
use in their municipal fleet,
adopted standard approval
and review timelines for EV
charger installations, adopted
relevant ordinances for new
construction, and updated
their comprehensive plan.
Charging Smart Is a Justice40 Program
Charging Smart is committed to transforming the transportation system in ways that positively benefit people, the environment, and the economy. Charging Smart is part of the Justice40 initiative, meaning that the program has a federal mandate to ensure that historically disadvantaged communities receive the benefits of this investment.