Electric Vehicles

This is a page dedicated to electric vehicles. Learn more about them and see why they could lead to a cleaner future. For more alternative fuels, check the Clean Cities Coalition Initiative.

All EV by 2050

Already possessing the largest hybrid fleet among Nevada government agencies, Clark County is now pushing toward an all-EV fleet by 2050 by way of its sustainability and climate action plan All-In Clark County. Officials with the County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES), the agency charged with leading the All-In efforts, are confident Clark County can achieve the 2050 goal.

“Between industrial vehicles and traditional automobiles, we’ve already added more than 50 electric vehicles to our fleet and our plan is to continue adding more,” said DES Director Marci Henson. “With All-In Clark County as our roadmap I’m confident we can meet our EV benchmarks along the way to achieving zero-emission status by 2050.”


Clark County's 2050 zero-emission pledge folds into larger sustainability goals:

  • Earning a Clean Cities designation from the U.S. Department of Energy.
  • Expanding EV charging stations - currently more than 220 in Clark County - and infrastructure throughout the region.
  • Achieving a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.
  • Converting 80 percent of the County's fleet to alternative fuel vehicles by 2030.
  • 100% EV fleet by 2050.


EV Infrastructure

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ordinance

Clark County is considering adopting an electric vehicle ordinance to make electric vehicle (EV) charging more convenient and more widespread.


Why?

  • Improve air quality
  • Improve public health
  • Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
The actions required to achieve these goals:
  • Reduce car dependency
  • Increase mobility options
  • Electrify transportation

According to Green Car Reports, an October 2019 poll, which surveyed 1,510 drivers in the U.S.:

  • 74 percent of all respondents agreed that electric cars are the future.
  • 61 percent of respondents cited more charging infrastructure as the biggest factor holding back their purchase.

Additional reasons for building EV infrastructure now include:

  • EVs are increasing in market share
  • Every major manufacturer is shifting their production to EVs
  • Clean Cars Nevada
  • Charging is a barrier
  • EV infrastructure upfront is cheaper

What Would the Ordinance Require?

All new buildings must include necessary electrical equipment to install - or enable the installation of - EV charging stations.

Advantages of EV Ready

  • Requires minimum number of EV-installed parking spots at build
  • Requires EV- ready parking spots in a % of total parking spaces
  • Allows future owners, landlords or tenants to easily install charging stations when needed



Clean Cars Nevada

Nevada became the sixteenth in the nation to adopt clean car standards. Former governor, Steve Sisolak, announced the Clean Cars Nevada initiative on June 22, 2020, to improve air quality, expand consumer choice, boost the economy and fight climate change in Nevada. The regulations will go into full effect for model year 2025 and provide consumers with more options for cost-saving and pollution-free light-duty cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs.

Clean car standards are the latest in a series of actions by Governor Sisolak and the Nevada Legislature to advance the state’s Climate Strategy and establish Nevada as a leader in clean transportation and climate action. Recently passed legislation will support increased electric vehicle usage by developing $100 million in charging infrastructure over the next 3 years.

Advocates for environmental protection, public health, climate action, and consumer protection released the following statements:

"Today, we are proud to see Nevada become the sixteenth in the nation to adopt clean car standards. These protections will give Nevadans access to cleaner cars and help reduce harmful air pollution while helping our state meet its climate goals,” said Christi Cabrera of Nevada Conservation League. “We applaud Governor Sisolak, the Division of Environmental Protection, and the Nevada Legislative Commission for taking action and ensuring families have access to clean energy, clean air, and a clean environment for years to come."

For more, go to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection's Clean Cars Nevada page. Also, visit NevadaCleanCars.org for additional news and information.



EV Buyers' Guide

Know Before You Go!

Our Guide to Buying an EV

Buying a vehicle is a big purchase. Buying your first electric vehicle presents several questions and scenarios you probably haven’t considered. “What the range on a charge?” “Do I need oil changes?” “Where can I charge it up?” “Do I have to install equipment in my home?”

Before you go to the car dealership to kick a few tires, here are a couple websites that provide checklists and questions to ask yourself and your car dealer.

This section is for informational purposes only. Clark County does not endorse any electric vehicles or publications listed here.




EV Buyer's Guide: Charging Stations



Off-Peak EV Charging at Home

NV Energy offers a special Electric Vehicle Time-of-Use Rate for its northern and southern Nevada customers who have electric vehicles. The rate allows customers to charge their vehicle during the utility's off-peak hours between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. at a discounted rate. As an added benefit, the entire house gets the discount, not just the car. Learn more:

NV Energy

Find a Charging Station

Whether you're in Clark County, Nevada or anywhere else in the U.S., finding the nearest EV charging station is a quick Google search away. Check this map below for charging stations around Vegas: Las Vegas Charging Stations


Additional Charging Station Resources



EV Resources


EV Resources


Transportation and Electrification Working Group

Clark County and government partners across Southern Nevada have adopted goals related to improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution, and protecting public health. The transportation sector is responsible for harmful pollutants such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5), and nitrous oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that are precursors to the formation of ozone and contributors to various respiratory and other health related illnesses. Specifically in Clark County, transportation accounts for 7% of PM 2.5 generated and vehicle emissions are the dominant source of NOx at 39% and VOC at 21%. Additionally, at 36%, transportation is the second largest source of GHG emissions in Clark County.

To address these ongoing emissions, improve air quality and public health, and meet climate goals, regional and municipal plans such as Southern Nevada Strong and the On Board Mobility Plan include reducing car dependency and increasing mobility options for residents. However, as Clark County’s population continues to grow, so will the number of vehicles on the road. Therefore, it is imperative that we also electrify our region’s transportation system and ensure we are continuously increasing the percentage of renewable energy on the grid.

The urgency to address climate change and air pollution is an important factor, but the reality is that electric vehicles (EVs) are here, and they are poised to be the future. It is in the County’s best interest to prepare now to meet the infrastructure needs of a growing EV market.

Every major vehicle manufacturer in the world is shifting its production to EVs. EVs are increasing in market share and 20% of all new cars are expected to be electric by 2025, 50% by 2030 and 100% by 20401. In addition, national and state policies such as President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda and Clean Cars Nevada are driving market transformation to EVs. As the number of EVs increase, Clark County must be prepared to strategically supply the infrastructure necessary to meet this demand. The time to plan for this new infrastructure is now. Most EV infrastructure will be tied to development. Local buildings constructed today will be in service for at least the next 50 years. Local units of government can help avoid costly building retrofits such as electrical system upgrades, demolitions and rebuilds, and soft costs such as permits, inspections and approvals by planning for EV infrastructure now.

There are some communities that have been reactive to the transition to EVs, and it has resulted in charging infrastructure in places that does not suit users or is not ideal for the local government. In a poll conducted by Green Car Report in 2019, 74% of respondents agreed that electric cars are the future and 61% cited lack of charging infrastructure as the biggest factor holding back their purchase. If local governments are proactive, they can play a key role in reducing barriers to EV ownership and operation while also guiding infrastructure to where it is most appropriate. Clark County has already been leading in this regard with the largest alternatively fueled vehicle fleet in the state. There is much that can be gleaned from that success for a broader community-wide effort.

In April 2021, as part of its All-In Clark County Sustainability and Climate Action Initiative, the Clark County Board of County Commissioners provided direction to staff of the Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) to seek input from stakeholders and interested parties on a potential EV infrastructure ordinance. Staff held a workshop in June 2021 to learn about the issues, barriers and opportunities to adopting an EV infrastructure ordinance. Staff learned the following:

  1. There is no lead authority for transportation electrification in Southern Nevada;
  2. Energy load and delivery planning for transportation electrification in Clark County is in its infancy and is hampered by complex assumptions based on past practices that do not account for future conditions;
  3. Costs at the parcel level can be easily calculated, but total energy infrastructure costs upstream are not well understood or easily calculated; and
  4. There is a desire for consistency by developers and the utility regarding EV infrastructure requirements that may be adopted by local governments.

The purpose of the All-In Clark County Transportation Electrification Working Group (TEWG) is to develop, coordinate and implement local programs and strategies to support transportation electrification in Southern Nevada in an equitable manner.

TEWG’s initial focus will be transforming the passenger/light duty transportation sector to EVs, leveraging the experience of Clark County and other advanced public and private fleets. Future phases may tackle the following transportation sectors: other public agency fleets, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and transportation network companies.

TEWG will also serve as a forum to increase the community’s literacy and competency regarding EVs, EV charging infrastructure, utility regulations affecting EV infrastructure, and the costs of EV infrastructure.

Finally, TEWG will serve as a coordinating body that can position the region to take full advantage of utility, state and federal funding opportunities related to infrastructure, clean energy, transportation electrification and EVs.

DES invited core government collaborators to serve as founding members of the TEWG. These agencies have interest, responsibility and specialized expertise in transportation, energy, development and public fleet management. DES intends to use this core group of government collaborators as a proof of concept for a potential future climate collaborative in Southern Nevada.

DES also invited the non-profits, industries and utilities listed below for their unique interests and specialized expertise related to transportation, development, clean energy and electric vehicles. These participants may be adjusted in future phases of the TEWG.

Organization Organization Type Category

TEWG, with the assistance of S Curve Strategies, will be asked to gather information and, through a written report, accomplish the following:

  1. Provide recommendations on regional transportation electrification goals that:
      Meet local, regional and state GHG reduction, climate action and planning goals
      Meet local, regional and state GHG reduction, climate action and planning goals
  2. Present information about the current and future projected EV population for the region and itemize these data per municipality and unincorporated county.
  3. Present information about projected charging demand across the region and per municipality and unincorporated county for the following: public charging, multi-family, single family, workplace, and historically underserved communities.
  4. Present information on existing EV infrastructure in the region, itemized per municipality and unincorporated county, and provide recommendations on regional EV infrastructure development needs.
  5. Provide recommendations on regional EV charging infrastructure installation planning – focused on transforming light duty vehicles first.
  6. Provide recommendations on a model EV infrastructure ordinance that can serve as a consistent and coordinated example of what local governments in Clark County should adopt to fill infrastructure gaps and meet GHG reduction and EV goals.
  7. Present information regarding the costs of the model ordinance and how those costs are distributed.
  8. Provide recommendations on input to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission that will facilitate the growth of the EV market and charging infrastructure and will fairly distribute costs among utilities, EV owners, developers and property owners in a manner that balances economic development and the benefits of electrifying transportation to the region and State of Nevada.
  9. Provide recommendations on strategies for funding the implementation of EV planning and the installation of charging infrastructure and present information regarding all of the tools available to help electrify transportation in Southern Nevada.
  10. Present information on economic and workforce development opportunities from electrifying transportation and make recommendations to grow and support the electric vehicle industry in Clark County.
  11. Provide recommendations on public information and education strategies that will engage local dealerships and prepare them to roll out the requirements of Clean Cars Nevada and encourage the purchase and successful operation of EVs by Clark County residents.
  12. Address structural questions regarding where EV goals will be housed by core government collaborators and transformed into actionable policies and programs

Working Group Operations

  • The working group is advisory to DES staff.
  • The working group may be asked to break into subgroups to tackle particular tasks and subgroups will be asked to present information and recommendations to the working group.
  • Working group meetings will be open to the public. The public will be invited to make comment at the start and end of meetings.
  • Meetings will be convened monthly by DES and facilitated by a DES consultant.
  • It is anticipated that there will be a minimum of six (6) and up to nine (9) meetings.
  • Meetings are expected to be two (2) to three (3) hours but will not exceed three (3) hours.
  • Meeting notes will summarize meeting outcomes and all meeting materials will be provided to the members and made available to the public on DES’s website.
  • Working group members will agree to the information and recommendations presented in its report by consensus whenever possible. The level of consensus achieved will be represented in the report by indicating the members in agreement by name. Members that cannot live with the consensus of the working group will be noted in the report and invited to provide written comments that will be included verbatim in the final working group report.

Uses of the Working Group Report

DES staff will use the working group report to inform the preparation of a 2022 Clark County Transportation Electrification Plan. The Plan will serve as a regional blueprint that core government collaborators responsible for electric vehicle policies and programs can adopt and use to guide the transformation of transportation in Southern Nevada. If successful, DES intends to update the Clark County Transportation Electrification Plan on an annual basis to address future phases and provide support for implementation.

This document will also be used by core government collaborators to position the region to take full advantage of utility, state and federal funding opportunities.

* In-person meetings will be held at the Clark County Building Department, 4701 W. Russel Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89118; and will not be recorded
Registration Date Time Video Presentation

Meeting Notes

Questions and comments on the All-In Clark County Transportation Electrification Working Group can be submitted to:

allin@allinclarkcountynv.gov

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