(a) The commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall, as part of the development of the plan prepared pursuant to Section 44272.5 of the Health and Safety Code, assess whether charging station infrastructure is disproportionately deployed by population density, geographical area, or population income level, including low-, middle-, and high-income levels. This includes whether direct current fast charging stations are disproportionately distributed and whether access to these charging stations is disproportionately available. Upon making a finding that charging station infrastructure has been disproportionately deployed, the commission shall use moneys from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund, to the extent authorized by law, as well as other mechanisms, including incentives, to more proportionately deploy new charging station infrastructure, unless the commission makes a finding that the disproportionate deployment is reasonable and furthers state energy or environmental policy as articulated by the commission.
(b) For purposes of this section, “charging station” means the removable equipment that provides alternating or direct current to the battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, but does not include the supporting charging infrastructure, such as wiring, conduit, and electric panels.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 368, Sec. 3. (SB 1000) Effective January 1, 2019.)