Atlanta — Jan 08, 2025
The Atlanta Regional Commission Board today adopted a Regional Transportation Electrification Plan (RTEP), which aims to support the transition to electric vehicles in metro Atlanta.
The first regional plan of its kind in metro Atlanta, the RTEP provides data about the current state of EV adoption and related infrastructure, forecasts potential demand, and provides a policy framework to guide investments in EV-related infrastructure. The policy framework includes the following goals:
- Expand and coordinate EV charging infrastructure to maximize the growth of the EV ecosystem in an equitable and sustainable way.
- Accelerate EV adoption in the region by addressing common barriers in the EV transition, such as supporting local governments’ fleet transition plans.
- Boost workforce development and economic competitiveness by providing access to EV-related job training programs
- Align the RTEP with regional climate planning efforts to support greenhouse gas reductions.
“We know that electric vehicles will play an increasingly important role in our region in the years to come. This landmark plan will help guide investments in metro Atlanta to accommodate this historic EV transformation and ensure that it occurs in an equitable fashion,” said Anna Roach, ARC Executive Director & CEO.
The plan, funded by the Federal Highway Administration, is timely given the rise in EV ownership and ARC’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the region become more resilient to climate change.
Electric vehicles are a fast-growing part of metro Atlanta’s transportation landscape, driving demand for new charging infrastructure investments across the region. The plan forecasts the Atlanta region will have 361,000 or more EVs on the road in 2030, compared to 85,000 today, requiring a sizable increase in the number of private and public charging ports.
The forecast included four adoption scenarios to estimate the number of EVs on the road in 2030, based on percent of new vehicle sales that are EVs. The scenarios included market shares of new vehicle sales between 30% and 60% by 2030. EVs now comprise nearly 8% of new vehicle sales in metro Atlanta.
The transition to EVs promises to have an impact on the region’s air quality. Conventional gas-powered vehicles are one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, ozone, and other pollutants.
“This plan is an important part of ARC’s ongoing efforts to support a sustainable transportation system in our region,” said John Orr, Senior Managing Director of Transportation Planning at ARC. “But EV’s are just one element of our strategy. We must continue to design livable, walkable communities and invest in public transit, trails, and bike-ped infrastructure.”
RTEP Resources:
###
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 76 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission’s mission is to foster thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.
Contact Name: Paul Donsky
Contact Phone: 470-626-3869
Contact Email: pdonsky@atlantaregional.org