Columbus, OH, August 20, 2018 – Smart Columbus today announced the availability of an additional $175,000 in incentive funding to encourage apartment and condominium developers to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at residences throughout central Ohio. This second round of Multi-Unit Dwelling incentives was created after the program helped fund charging stations at 16 complexes earlier this year. The incentives are funded by the $10 million grant awarded to Columbus by the Paul G. Allen Philanthropies as the winner of the Smart City Challenge. 

“We were delighted with the response we received from developers during the initial phase of the program, and saw that interest still existed in the community,” said Michael Stevens, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Columbus. “These additional residential installations will complement charging installations in public spaces and workplaces throughout the region, making EV ownership even more attractive to our residents.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 80 to 85 percent of electric vehicle charging happens at home. The program seeks to make at-home charging more accessible to residents of apartments or condos, who may lack control of a power source where they park.   

“The EV market is shaping up to be huge, so the need for infrastructure is going to grow and grow,” said John Riat, Development Coordinator for Casto, which received an incentive to fund a charging station at its new River and Rich property in Franklinton earlier this year. “Charging is currently lacking at apartment communities, which can make buying an EV out of the question for most apartment renters. We are looking forward to being able to offer charging infrastructure near people’s homes and I think many people will be excited for it.”

Incentives can be redeemed for a value of up to $3,500 per plug or parking space, with a maximum of $25,000 awarded to any one entity or applicant. Applications will be reviewed by Clean Fuels Ohio, with funding awarded based on several factors including geographical distribution of projects, outreach and education plans developed for the proposed project, timeline for completion and proposed budget. Incentives are available for developments in Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison, Pickaway, Fairfield and Licking Counties. 

Applications are now available on the Smart Columbus website and are due October 1 (click for application and budget worksheet). Clean Fuels Ohio is available to help developers and owners complete their application. 

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About Smart Columbus
The City of Columbus’ Smart Columbus plan won the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) $40 million Smart City Challenge in June 2016 after competing against 77 cities nationwide to become the country’s first city to fully integrate innovative technologies – self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors – into its transportation network. Columbus was also awarded an additional $10 million grant from Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan, Inc. to accelerate the transition to an electrified, low-emissions transportation system. Aligned investments totaling more than $500 million have been made by the private, public and academic institutions in the region to support technology and infrastructure investments that upgrade Columbus' transportation network and help make Columbus the model connected city of the future. Smart Columbus is a regional smart city initiative co-led by the City of Columbus and Columbus Partnership that includes partnerships with The Ohio State University, Battelle, American Electric Power and many more. 

For more information, visit the Smart Columbus website www.smart.columbus.gov.