New Orleans wants to transform to an EV-friendly city
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New Orleans leaders want at least 40% of passenger vehicles registered in Orleans Parish to be electric within 10 years, according to a draft report.
Why it matters: It will require infrastructure upgrades and financial incentives to encourage people to make the switch.
The big picture: One of the biggest priorities, the report says, is adding EV charging infrastructure in convenient locations.
- The city wants to install 600 charging ports in the next five years. Some could be installed on streetlights.
- The recommendations in the report call for the city to create a hiring program to construct the ports and deploy other EV projects.
- The report says the city plans to use a mix of local, federal and private funding for the initiatives.
Public sentiment is also a challenge, the report says.
- Drivers in the survey cited the high upfront costs of buying an EV. They also said a lack of charging options at home is a turnoff.
- They also have uncertainty about the reliability of EVs and charging stations during power outages and evacuations in south Louisiana, the report says.
- The report suggests putting chargers on pedestals above flood levels and adding solar energy and battery storage to mitigate power outages.
- Financial incentives may be needed to encourage people to make the switch, the findings say.
Meanwhile, the city is looking at having a greater share of electric vehicles in its fleet.
- The report says leaders are talking with the Regional Transit Authority, Orleans Parish School Board and the Port of New Orleans about their plans to electrify their own fleets.
- Another suggestion is to give city contractors, like waste haulers, extra points in their bids if they have EVs in their fleets.
Between the lines: The city wants to encourage electric cars, truck, e-bikes and scooters.
- Part of the report focuses on increasing e-bike use through a rebate program and more protected bike lanes.
- Another idea is using e-cargo bikes for local deliveries.
Zoom in: The city says it is focusing on EVs because leaders believe these changes will bring more jobs and business to New Orleans, according to a statement.
- They want to use a tax-exemption program to attract EV and battery manufacturers to New Orleans metro.
- This has been a hot topic as the Trump administration pushes for more tariffs on imported products.
- Simply put, the U.S. can't build EVs without China, writes Axios' Joann Muller.
Zoom out: The city also has an overall goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2035. Switching to EVs would help with that, leaders say in the executive summary.
What's next: The public has until July 7 to comment on the plan. Submit here.
Go deeper: Read the full report.