Electric vehicles - WSDOT electric fleet and infrastructure

2023

WSDOT plans to expand its vehicle infrastructure throughout the state

Funding has been approved to develop a statewide electric charging station installation plan for WSDOT facilities to support the WSDOT electric vehicle fleet. The goal is to install two level 2 and one DC fast charging stations at the agency's 24 Area Headquarters maintenance locations and other WSDOT facilities statewide to enhance charging coverage.

In the meantime, WSDOT plans to move forward while this long-term plan is being developed and install two level 2 and one DC fast charging stations at strategic, highly traveled locations where charging infrastructure is needed the most. Supplemental budget requests were submitted to the legislature for fiscal year 2024 to implement this internal short-term plan, as it is underfunded.

As part of the short-term plan, WSDOT began adding electrical capacity to facilities in Pasco and Ephrata in preparation to install EV charging stations. An electrical engineer is scoping WSDOT Moses Lake, Colville, Electric City and Okanogan sites to ensure that electrical capacity is sufficient. As WSDOT requires fleet vehicles to travel statewide, installing EV charging stations in remote locations that have significant travel will help provide better coverage statewide of EV charging infrastructure. Installing EV charging stations at Moses Lake will provide connection between Seattle and Spokane on I-90.

A solar-powered EV charging station was deployed in Bellevue to test this technology. The benefits of this charging station are that it is easily portable, draws no electricity from the grid, and stores solar power in a battery bank for later use. However, it provides slow charging equivalent to Level 1 charging and has a higher purchase cost compared to other charging stations.

WSDOT's policy is to replace internal combustion vehicles with electric vehicles.

In 2023, WSDOT added EV cargo vans and 4-wheel drive 1/2 ton crew cab pickup trucks to the fleet in lieu of combustion vehicles. These new vehicles are the first EVs of their body style to be used in the fleet.

WSDOT faces challenges in purchasing electric SUVs and pickup trucks

As WSDOT continues to expand its EV fleet, the biggest challenges have been equipment availability, vehicle lead time, and contract vendors canceling orders.

EV SUVs and trucks currently on the market cannot perform off road and in snow conditions to the degree required by WSDOT to complete its functions in some areas of the state. Some agency vehicle requirements cannot be met by an all-electric vehicle currently on the market.

WSDOT purchases EVs where the vehicle meets operational and program needs. As such, WSDOT considers vehicle range and payload capacity. For example, trucks used for plowing snow and sanding operate 24 hours daily and are refueled at shift changes (once every 12 hours), so currently available EV vehicles would not be able to fulfill this function.

2022

WSDOT electrification plan moves forward

WSDOT intends to perform feasibility studies on 125 WSDOT facilities in developing a statewide electric charging station installation plan. The goal is to install charging stations at the agency's 24 maintenance shops and other locations statewide to enhance charging coverage.

WSDOT plans to install DC fast charging stations at strategic, highly traveled locations and is working to first get the infrastructure where it is needed the most and then deploy additional electric vehicles to the agency's fleet. WSDOT has submitted supplemental budget requests to the Legislature for fiscal year 2024 to implement this plan, as it is underfunded.

WSDOT expands its electric vehicle infrastructure throughout state

WSDOT expanded its electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 3.6% in 2022 by adding three charging stations, bringing the total to 87 WSDOT-owned stations statewide. The majority (50) of these charging stations were part of the Volkswagen grant agreements with the Washington State Department of Ecology, Department of Enterprise Services and Volkswagen.

In 2022, WSDOT installed Level 2 charging stations in Seattle and Spokane as part of these grant agreements. WSDOT also completed installation projects in Shoreline, 26 Level 2 charging stations were added and one DC fast charging station. The new Olympic Region headquarters facility, added five Level 2 charging stations. WSDOT has also ordered a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station that will be installed in Bellevue in 2023. Solar-powered charging stations do not require permits, construction, or additional electrical capacity to be added; they have no utility costs.

WSDOT decreases passenger vehicle fleet by 5% in five years

Over the past five years, WSDOT has reduced the number of vehicles in its statewide passenger vehicle fleet by 5.0%, from 395 in 2018 to 375 in 2022. COVID-19 restrictions, and more widespread use of video conferences and teleworking resulted in less vehicle use and ultimately helped this reduction.

WSDOT working to replace internal combustion passenger vehicles

WSDOT prioritizes purchasing electric vehicles to replace internal combustion engine passenger vehicles to meet the Washington State Legislature's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% below 1990 levels by 2030. With the goal in mind, WSDOT has increased the number of EVs in its passenger vehicle fleet by 45.5% from 66 in 2018 to 96 in 2022 in the past five years.

WSDOT faces challenges in purchasing electric vehicles

Supply chain shortages resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have hindered the ability of manufacturers to build enough EVs to meet the growing demand. These supply chain issues have created significant challenges for the WSDOT to purchase vehicles and equipment. The biggest challenges have been equipment availability, vehicle lead time, and contract vendors canceling orders.

2021

WSDOT expands its EV infrastructure

WSDOT expanded its electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 56% in 2021 This equates to a total of 84 charging stations of which 47 of these stations were part of the Volkswagen grant agreements with the Washington State Department of Ecology, Department of Enterprise Services and Volkswagen.

In 2021, as part of these grant agreements, WSDOT installed 43 Level 2 charging stations with the capacity to charge 86 vehicles and four DC fast charging stations throughout the state. WSDOT installed Level 2 charging stations on Bainbridge Island, in Shoreline, Spokane and Union Gap, and at two locations in Seattle.

WSDOT's DC fast charger network has expanded to include Shoreline, South Seattle, Spokane and Union Gap. Since 2016, Volkswagen grant agreements have provided 58 Level 2 EV chargers and five DC fast chargers to WSDOT's electric vehicle infrastructure. These fast-charging stations now provide access for WSDOT cross-state EV travel between Spokane, Cle Elum, Union Gap, Seattle and Olympia.

WSDOT installs EV chargers on leased property

WSDOT collaborated with the Department of Corrections and Edna L. Goodrich (ELG) building landlord, Wright Runstad & Company, to install a bank of 10 Level 2 dual-head chargers and a DC fast charger in Tumwater at the ELG building in 2020. WSDOT and the Department of Corrections lease this building. WSDOT funded this project with monies from the 2016 Volkswagen settlement that stemmed from the car company violating the United States' Clean Air Act.

WSDOT reduces passenger vehicle fleet in 2021

WSDOT reduced the number of vehicles overall in its statewide passenger vehicle fleet by 5%, from 409 in 2016 to 389 in 2021.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and an equipment purchasing freeze, WSDOT did not purchase new passenger vehicles in 2021. The EV passenger vehicle numbers increased from 66 in 2018 to 89 in 2020 and the percentage of electric vehicles in its passenger vehicle fleet increased from 6% to 23% between 2016 and 2020. WSDOT plans to purchase more EVs for its passenger vehicle fleet and continue to reduce its environmental footprint.

WSDOT replaces internal combustion passenger vehicles

WSDOT prioritizes purchasing electric vehicles to replace internal combustion engine passenger vehicles to meet the Washington State Legislature's goal to reduce GHG emissions by 2030.

Since early 2018, WSDOT has replaced 32 internal combustion engine vehicles with Battery Electric Vehicles at its facilities in Spokane, Olympia area, Vancouver, Seattle area, Chehalis, Union Gap, Aberdeen, Port Angeles and Everett.

2020

WSDOT increases its EV fleet while expanding EV infrastructure

WSDOT increased the percentage of electric vehicles in its passenger vehicle fleet from 6% to 23% between 2016 and 2020.

WSDOT plans to purchase more EVs for its passenger vehicle fleet and continue to reduce its environmental footprint. The agency has increased the number of EVs in its passenger fleet from 66 in 2018 to 89 in 2020, WSDOT has also reduced the total number of vehicles in its statewide passenger vehicle fleet by 5% from 409 in 2016 to 390 in 2020.

Volkswagen grant brings additional electric vehicle funds to WSDOT

To further develop WSDOT's electric vehicle charging infrastructure and increase the number of plug-in electric vehicles, WSDOT negotiated a Volkswagen grant agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology. This provides funds for WSDOT to purchase 20 plug-in electric vehicles by June 30, 2021. As part of this grant, WSDOT agreed to purchase and install electric vehicle charging stations to support WSDOT's electric vehicles.

These efforts stalled in April through the end of 2020 due to Legislative budget reductions associated with COVID-19, which froze new equipment purchases. WSDOT's Assistant Secretaries Review Board provided a special approval to allow the purchase of 10 Level 2 dual-head charger and one DC fast charger in 2020 using matching funds. In addition, five Level 2 EV chargers were installed in 2020.

To connect eastern and western Washington along the I-90 corridor with EV charging access, a DC fast charger was installed in the Spokane WSDOT Region Headquarters in December 2020 and was functional as of January 2021. This fast charging station provides access to EV charging for across the state travel between Spokane, Cle Elum and Seattle/Olympia for WSDOT EVs.

WSDOT collaborated with the Department of Corrections and Edna L. Goodrich building landlord, Wright Runstad & Company to install a bank of 10 Level 2, dual-head chargers and a DC fast charger at ELG by using the 2016 Volkswagen settlement funding that stemmed from that car company violating the United State's Clean Air Act. Installation is expected to start in 2021.

WSDOT has installed 15 Level 2 EV chargers and two DC fast chargers (in Cle Elum and Spokane) with this VW funding since 2018.

Department of Enterprise Services provides electric vehicle options

The Department of Enterprise Services—working with the State Efficiency and Environmental Performance Governing Council (SEEP)—received $1 million to install electric vehicle charging stations as additional infrastructure is required to support the state's electric vehicle goals.

WSDOT finalized a memorandum of understanding with DES in December 2020 for $250,000 in EV infrastructure funding. Through this agreement, DES will reimburse WSDOT for funds that have been allocated to installing:

• Six Level 2 dual-head chargers and one Level 3 fast charger at WSDOT Corson Shop in Seattle ($150,000).
• Eleven additional Level 2 dualhead chargers to accommodate WSDOT and Ecology vehicles after the remodel of WSDOT Dayton Avenue Facility in Shoreline ($100,000).

WSDOT seeing success through its Nuts for Bolts program

WSDOT created the "Nuts for Bolts" program to support Gov. Jay Inslee's updated EV Fleets Initiative, which mandates that at least 50% of new state passenger vehicle purchases be electric vehicles. The "Nuts for Bolts" program encourages offices to volunteer to trade their state-owned gas vehicles for all-electric Chevrolet Bolts. As part of the program, electric vehicle charging stations were installed at WSDOT facilities to support the new Bolts if a charger was not already available. Since early 2018, 21 internal combustion engine vehicles have been replaced with Bolts at WSDOT facilities including Union Gap, Aberdeen, Port Angeles, and Everett.

2019

WSDOT buys EV passenger vehicles as part of the Washington State EV Fleets Initiative

Gov. Inslee announced an update to the Washington State EV Fleets Initiative in January 2019, accelerating the target for state agencies to update their fleet vehicles. Under the update, at least 50% of all new state passenger vehicle purchases must be electric vehicles by 2020. EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.

This initiative is expected to help reduce vehicle operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gov. Inslee directed all state agencies to purchase electric vehicles instead of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles in applicable vehicle categories (namely passenger vehicles) unless there is not an EV option in the marketplace that meets the operational needs of the agency.

Nuts for Bolts program

To support the EV Fleets Initiative, WSDOT created the "Nuts for Bolts" program to encourage offices to volunteer to trade their state-owned gas vehicles for all-electric Chevrolet Bolts. As part of the program, electric vehicle charging stations were installed at WSDOT facilities to support the new Bolts if a charger was not already available. Since early 2018, 14 internal combustion engine vehicles have been replaced with Bolts at WSDOT facilities including Union Gap, Aberdeen, Port Angeles, and Everett.

WSDOT facilities add EV chargers across the state for agency vehicles

WSDOT has installed 36 EV charging stations at agency facilities around the state, with charging ports for up to 66 EVs. Another eight facilities will be live by July 2020, with charging ports for another 15 EVs. The agency is building this network to encourage staff to use newly purchased EVs for business travel. WSDOT charging stations are available for staff use in Aberdeen, Bainbridge Island, Burlington, Cle Elum, Olympia, Port Orchard, Seattle, Shoreline, Spokane, Tumwater, Union Gap, Vancouver and Wenatchee.