How can jurisdictions improve upon policies and practices that govern the connection of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to the electric grid?

Interconnecting EV chargers to the grid involves steps that a customer or developer must follow to secure utility service and safely begin operation— similar to connecting other types of load, such as new residential or commercial buildings.

The process and complexity of connecting charging equipment to the grid can vary based on the type of charging infrastructure. The different types of chargers serve a variety of purposes, including charging at a home or workplace where a car will be parked for longer durations (Level 1 or Level 2), charging in a commercial area or parking lot when parked for shorter periods (Level 2 or DC Fast Charger), or high speed charging during long distance trips (DCFC).

Due to potential delays at any step of the process, charger interconnection timelines can vary widely from one project to the next. This creates uncertainty for project developers and slows down the transition to electrified transportation.

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In this paper produced by IREC, Paving the Way: Emerging Best Practices for Electric Vehicle Charger Interconnection, we highlight the interconnection process, identify the challenges to EVSE interconnection, and  discuss the strategies that states and utilities can use to streamline the process to adding EV charging infrastructure.