Plug-In Electric Vehicles

With thousands of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEV) being manufactured and available in the U.S. in the coming months, the era of the electric vehicle has arrived. PEVs represent an important step in the transition to a green economy, yet there are several barriers to adapting this technology into existing systems of infrastructure, finance, and consumer behavior. PEVs will change the way people drive and move goods and will ultimately impact the transportation and electric grid infrastructures that serve all of society. In an attempt to better understand electric vehicles’ operations and the required refueling infrastructure, ODOT convened a group of key stakeholders from both private and governmental sectors in the fall of 2010 to begin preparing Ohio’s cities/communities for an electrified transportation system.

Strategic Goal
To develop and implement a statewide Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) readiness strategy and Infrastructure deployment roadmap that will integrate this new breed of vehicle and refueling infrastructure into Ohio’s existing transportation system.

Justification
Infrastructure:

• Electric vehicles will be on Ohio’s roads within the next 6 – 12 months and the state needs to be prepared to support this new vehicle type.
• Enables Ohio to proactively evaluate the technology and devise a mitigation strategy for the loss in gas tax revenue.

• Provides the potential for new jobs via manufacturing and economic growth in the Ohio region (i.e. CODA, Ford, Venturi Automotive, Plug-Smart, etc.)

• Ohio's motor vehicle industry (NAICS 3361-3) produced $10.6 billion worth of goods in 2008 – about 11.9 percent of U.S. output and third after Michigan and Indiana.
• The greatest concentrations of industry employment in Ohio occur in gasoline engines and parts, vehicular lighting equipment, steering and suspension parts, and metal stamping.
• Motor vehicle industry establishments in Ohio employed about 76,500 people during 2009, which made up 11.6 percent of all such workers in the nation.

Participating Organizations
ODOT, Ohio Public Utilities Commission, AEP, FirstEnergy, Duke Energy, AMP Public Power, City of Columbus, City of Akron, City of Lima, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Clean Fuels Ohio, Edison Welding Institute, , Ohio Consumer’s Counsel, Ohio Auto Dealers Association, State Fire Marshal’s Office, National Electrical Contractors Association, OSU Center for Automotive Research, University of Akron.