Abstract
California’s climate goals increasingly depend on shifting electric vehicle (EV) charging to midday, when clean, low-cost solar energy is most abundant. Doing so could help utilities avoid having to curtail solar energy and prevent reliability-driven infrastructure upgrades that would raise rates for all customers. Workplace charging programs are well positioned to support this shift, as many vehicles remain parked during daylight hours. However, workplace charging presents a cost dilemma. Since home charging is typically less expensive, employees may be reluctant to use workplace chargers unless prices are heavily discounted—yet offering free or low-cost charging extends the time it takes for employers to recoup infrastructure investments.
