Credit: Montgomery County.
Montgomery County has developed a new online tool to support municipalities as they prepare to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles (EV) in the County. The Montgomery County Planning Commission unveiled its “Fully Charged!” online EV mapping tool to help communities build EV charging stations strategically and safely.
Montgomery County has more EV registrations than any other county in Pennsylvania, while EV registrations across the Commonwealth have tripled since 2021.
“It’s clear that our residents are moving toward electric vehicles, which improve air quality for all of us and create cleaner, quieter streets,” said Neil K. Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “This is a great example of the role we play as a County, and how we can support municipalities and others who are trying to advance sustainability through EV charging infrastructure. With the Fully Charged! Tool, we’ve put it all in one place to make it as easy as possible.”
This new tool will help stakeholders looking to transition to electric vehicles make educated decisions about the need for and placement of electric vehicle infrastructure in their communities. Municipal planners can use the tool to better understand the most impactful locations for EV charging stations, such as where residents live, work, and shop.
“We’re giving our communities the tools to plan smarter and build a cleaner, more connected future,” said Jamila H. Winder, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “Whether you’re a resident curious about EVs or a planner shaping your community’s infrastructure, this tool meets you where you are.”
Fully Charged! provides detailed information on EVs and charging technology, features an interactive map that allows users to explore their communities, discusses municipal EV issues, and offers a model ordinance that can be adapted to a municipality’s needs to promote responsible development of charging infrastructure.
“Safety and smart planning is key when considering EV infrastructure," said Thomas DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. "This new tool is an interactive resource for safety information—particularly potential fire hazards—as communities look to install these chargers."
The interactive map allows the user to explore Montgomery County communities to begin a conversation on where EV chargers would best serve the community. Users can explore different property types that may be appropriate for publicly accessible chargers, such as government-owned properties, commercial and retail areas, multifamily housing developments, and other properties that may be easily accessible by the public.
The tool also shows specific populations defined by US Census data, PA state data, and county data to let users explore the populations that live in communities that currently own EVs, may be compatible with growing markets for EV ownership, or may have barriers to EV ownership. By understanding who lives in a community and where charging infrastructure may be most useful, a municipality can make educated decisions to create the most positive impact.
On April 17, the Board of Commissioners voted to install 18 new EV charging stations at five County-owned facilities, enabling a quicker transition to an all-EV County vehicle fleet.
For more information on the project, contact Jon Lesher at jon.lesher@montgomerycountypa.gov
