Electric Vehicle Stakeholder Initiative (EVSI)

In coordination with the Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition, the Energy Office launched the SC Electric Vehicle (EV) Stakeholder Initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to facilitate a broad, collaborative statewide discussion among stakeholders to explore the opportunities to advance EV deployment in the state. Components of this initiative include:

  • conduct an EV baseline assessment,
  • hold EV educational workshops and webinars, and
  • evaluate EV advancement opportunities.

Stakeholders formed five working groups to examine the challenges and opportunities related to the following:

  • EV Infrastructure
  • Incentives and Financing
  • Public Entities
  • Equity and Accessibility
  • Education, Outreach, and Workforce Development

These working groups met throughout 2021 to develop recommendations. The finalized recommendations from these stakeholder groups were summarized in a report in September 2022. This report resulting from this stakeholder process was submitted to the Joint Committee on the Electrification of Transportation, a legislative committee that was established by the passage of Act 46.

Background

In 2019, the SC Office of Regulatory staff held a stakeholder meeting to discuss Duke Energy’s applications filed with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina for an EV pilot project (Application for Approval of Proposed Electric Transportation Pilot and an Accounting Order to Defer Capital and Operating Expenses). While this meeting was designed to focus on Duke Energy’s application, there was broad support among stakeholders for continued discussions on statewide EV electrification – outside the scope of the applications. This statewide EV Stakeholder Initiative is intended to provide a process and forum for broader discussion.

Survey Request

As a first step, the SC Energy Office requested input in May 2020 on a variety of topics related to EV electrification via an online survey. Information from this survey was used to inform potential workshop topics and working groups discussions and recommendations on EV programs and policies. Survey responses were aggregated and presented along with data from the baseline assessment at a workshop.

SC Electric Vehicle Stakeholder Initiative Workshops

A series of workshops and working groups were designed to:

  • Examine the legislative and regulatory environment surrounding EVs and EV charging station access and adoption,
  • Identify challenges and opportunities for EVs and EV charging stations, and,
  • Develop recommendations surrounding EV saturation and EV charging stations in SC.

Workshop #1

February 17, 2021; View Recording

Workshop #2

March 2, 2021,

In this workshop, participants broke into working groups designed to examine the challenges and opportunities of expanding EV adoption in South Carolina. Below are notes from each of the breakout sessions:

Workshop #3

October 28, 2021,

At this workshop, staff will review the top recommendations from each of the working groups and solicit and integrate feedback from all stakeholders.

SC Electric Vehicle Stakeholder Initiative Webinars

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Recording (May 2021)

Electric Vehicle Rate Design (June 2021)

The Power of Stakeholder Groups (July 2021)