Sustainability Highlight
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- Covers the period from 2022 to 2030.
Our approach
Today, about one in seven of all electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S. can be found in PG&E’s service area, and California has deployed about 94,000 chargers across the state, including more than 10,000 fast chargers, exceeding the state’s target two years early. But there is still more to do.
Unleashing the full potential of electric vehicles
To meet both the state’s goals and our own, we are actively engaged in projects to expand EV charging infrastructure, provide EV education and outreach, prepare our grid for electrification, and integrate EV charging.
This includes collaborating with automakers, charging equipment providers, and state programs to build and support the large-scale electric infrastructure needed to incorporate EV charging systems into the electric grid. PG&E also supports EV adoption through rates, rebates, tools, and outreach to help reduce the total cost of ownership of an EV and increase awareness about the benefits of EVs.
EV Infrastructure Rule 29 is designed to make it simpler and less costly for commercial, industrial, or multi-family customers to install EV charging infrastructure. Under Rule 29, PG&E will pay for and coordinate the design and deployment of service extensions from PG&E’s electrical distribution line facilities to the service delivery point for separately metered EV charging stations.
2023 milestones
Customer programs and pilots
In 2023, with our EV Fleet program, we completed construction of 25 sites to enable innovative medium- and heavy-duty transportation electrification initiatives. With our EV Fast Charge Program, we completed nine sites and have offered contracts to 35 different customer locations, including convenience stores, retail centers, and public parks.
We also proposed four new programs focused on equity and resiliency:
- Affordable Public Charging
- Residential Charging Solutions Expansion
- Resilient Fleets
- EV Capacity
Additionally, we proposed a Transportation Electrification Advisory Services program to offer support as customers seek to electrify their fleets, focusing on key challenges such as fleet electrification planning, site selection, implementation coordination, and post-energization support.
Low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) programs
PG&E participates in California’s LCFS program, which aims to lower the carbon impact of California’s transportation fuels by 20% by 2030. PG&E earns credits for supplying low-carbon fuel in the form of electricity and compressed renewable natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and uses the revenue from the sale of LCFS credits to fund customer programs.
Innovation, R&D, and vehicle-to-grid integration
- Launched Phase 1 of our new vehicle-to-everything (V2X) pilot programs involving residential and commercial customers and multi-customer microgrids. The pilots focus on enabling large-scale customer adoption of bidirectional charging technology by providing financial incentives to customers, with added benefits to those located in disadvantaged communities. We will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of bidirectional charging technology in various grid-supporting applications such as renewable energy integration, deferral of distribution upgrades, and customer resilience during grid outages.
Expanding rate options
- Offered commercial customers a Business EV Rate with over 700 sites enrolled through 2023, including workplaces, fleets, and public fast charging sites. This rate is designed to reduce EV charging costs through a monthly subscription charge (similar to a data plan for a phone bill), giving customers more control over costs.
- Launched submetering for customers on EV rates, which will allow customers to separate their EV charging usage from their home or business without the need to install a separate meter. This gives customers more flexibility to select the best rate for their EV charging and the best rate for their home or business (non-EV charging) needs.
We’re helping residential and commercial customers explore the financial benefits of owning an EV:
- Our EV Savings Calculator enables prospective and current EV drivers to explore available light-duty models, learn about incentives to reduce the cost of the vehicles, determine the best residential rate plan, and locate charging stations. In 2023, the calculator surpassed 1.4 million unique visitors since its launch in 2019.
- Our EV Fleet Calculator helps customers looking to electrify their fleets. The customizable tool includes incentives and grants available through PG&E and other local, state, and federal programs; how to save through the business EV rate; and a LCFS credit calculator.
Measuring progress
The number of EVs in operation in PG&E’s service area reached over 580,000 in 2023, showing a consistent growth in registrations. PG&E estimates that nearly 30% of new vehicles sold in 2023 in PG&E’s service area were electric.
EVs in PG&E’s service area
Residential electric vehicle rate enrollment in PG&E’s service area
Non-residential electric vehicle rate enrollment in PG&E’s service area
- Source: Electric Power Research Institute, based on external registration data.
- Includes enrollments in all residential electric vehicle rate plans (EV-A, EV2-A, and EV-B).
- Includes enrollments in non-residential electric vehicle rate plans (BEV-1 and BEV-2).
We also maintain a network of 28 CNG vehicle refueling facilities. PG&E uses our expertise to help commercial customers take advantage of this relatively low-emitting domestic alternative fuel in their own fleets.
Through our network of CNG vehicle refueling facilities open to customers, we refueled about 540 vehicles and fleets with about 1.9 million therms of RNG in 2023. Compared to conventional natural gas, RNG is a lower carbon intensity fuel, which results in lower greenhouse gas emissions.
PG&E-supplied natural gas consumed by the transportation sector
- Based on PG&E’s reported data to the CARB.