Electric vehicles (EVs) produce up to 43% fewer emissions than standard diesel vehicles, according to studies. It’s not currently known exactly how many EVs are in Portland, but as of January 2022, there were 47,390 registered in Oregon. Portland has pledged to cut carbon emissions in the city by getting more EVs on the city’s roads. So, is Portland ready for an influx of EVs?
The current situation
Residents in Portland have access to more than 400 EV charging plugs in the city. There are also more than 800 charging plugs in the metro area of Portland, according to the Portland government. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) encroachment manual has been updated in recent years to make it easier for EV owners to charge their vehicles. For example, homeowners without a driveway or garage are now allowed to charge their EV at the curbside. However, some issues have been raised by locals about private charging. Portland’s EV Ready Code means that 50% of residential parking spaces in new builds will have electrical capacity. The problem is the chargers aren’t being installed as part of the deal, so tenants are having to fork out for this cost.
Popular EVs
At the moment, Portland and Oregon residents don’t seem to be put off from buying EVs because of the EV Ready Code. Oregon is currently the 5th state with the most EVs. The most popular EV in the area is Tesla, with the Model 3 coming out on top. Tesla is a popular choice because they’ve introduced multiple EVs since 2003. The Tesla Model 3 is also the cheapest Tesla model you can rent. People often want to rent a Tesla electric car before committing to buying one so they can be sure that an EV is suitable for them. Expect to pay around $120 to $130 per day for a Tesla 3. Other EVs that are frequently seen on Portland and Oregon’s roads include the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt EV, and Chevrolet Volt.
What more does Portland need to do?
Portland residents have to fork out a lot of cash in one go to be able to afford an EV. The average cost of an EV in the U.S. is $56,437. Typical charging port installation fees in Oregon come in at between $200 and $1,000. The Standard Rebate Program and the Charge Ahead Rebate Program allow people in the city to potentially get back $7,500 following an EV purchase. But with the price of living rising and the number of EV owners in Oregon nowhere near the 2025 goal of 250,000, Portland needs to do more to help people buy EVs. This could include offering free or cut-price residential charging ports, free charging across the city for 6 months, and tax breaks. Oregon currently charges an annual tax fee of $110 to plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) owners, but this could be scrapped to increase sales.
Portland is well-equipped to deal with an increase of electric vehicles on its roads. But, there has been a slow uptake of EVs in the city and more needs to be done to encourage locals to buy one.
