Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Office of Energy in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) released the Florida Electric Vehicle (EV) Roadmap on Tuesday in an effort to improve the Sunshine State’s growing EV network.

“Electric vehicles are critical to reducing energy consumption, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating a sustainable transportation system in Florida,” said Fried. “As home to the state’s Office of Energy, we are committed to establishing this roadmap that will guide the development of the nation’s best, most efficient, most equitable EV network.”

The joint effort is the first comprehensive investigation into the current and future needs of EV charging infrastructure in the state.

Our @FDACS Office of Energy is proud to release the Florida EV Roadmap, the first comprehensive look at our state’s electric vehicle future.

Florida has the nation’s third-most EVs and charging capacity — now we must build America’s best, most efficient and equitable EV network.

— Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) January 5, 2021

Florida is home to the third-most electric vehicles in the nation with 60,000 registered light-duty electric vehicles, and also ranks third for EV charging capacity with 3,907 Level 2 charging plugs and 844 direct current fast charges (DCFC) plugs in the state. The Roadmap includes recommended sites for charging infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the state, as well as planning recommendations on topics including permitting, emergency evacuation needs, and EV education.

State Senator Jeff Brandes, a major advocate of elective vehicles in Florida, says the investments in EV infrastructure will be needed as more Floridians turn to electric cars.

“By 2030, 15–25% of all new cars sold in Florida will be electric. This will be the biggest transition we have seen in transportation in one hundred years,” said Brandes. “The ramifications of this shift will transform the automobile industry. It will require new infrastructure investments, and it will require us to reimagine mobility in Florida. The Florida EV Roadmap will help us to identify challenges and opportunities that lie on the road ahead.”

In May 2019, the FDACS Office of Energy began working on an EV Roadmap. With a new law last legislative session laying the groundwork for a more robust network of charging stations in Florida, FDACS began working with agencies and businesses to develop a plan to meet the growing demand for EVs.

Some of the highlights in the Florida EV Roadmap include:

• A map recommending emergency evacuation routes and considerations that are unique to EVs;
• A map of recommendations for infrastructure installation and growth for calendar years 2021, 2022, and 2023;
• Forecast infrastructure requirements for 2021 through 2029;
• Recommendations for EV infrastructure, emergency power, and resilience;
• A catalog of best practices for the planning of infrastructure for light-duty EVs; and
• Recommendations, guidance, and best practices for future expansion of EV infrastructure

To view the full report, click here.