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Friday, December 15, 2023 | Department of Environmental Protection
 2023 was a big year for electric vehicles in Montgomery County.
The number of plug-in vehicles registered in the County increased by 8,950 over the last 12 months, bringing the total number to 28,288 as of November 2023. The County led the state of Maryland with 31.8% of all plug-in vehicles. The number of new registrations increased almost every month, and for the first time ever over 1,000 EVs were added in a single month. DEP estimates that plug-ins made up over 15% of all newly registered vehicles in the County this year, and about 3.5% of all registered vehicles.
EV adoption is accelerating in the County. But are EVs ready to make the jump to mass-market adoption? The answer depends on whether there will be enough EV charging infrastructure.
New charging in 2023
According to U.S. Department of Energy, 158 public Level 2 charging ports and 13 DC Fast Charging ports came online in the County in 2023. This growth continues a steady trend since 2020, bringing the total amount of public charging to 713 Level 2 ports across 282 locations and 118 DC Fast charging ports in 37 county locations. MCDOT hosts 64 Level 2 chargers in County parking garages and lots in Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton.
 Though the number of ports is increasing, many residents have expressed a need for more charging infrastructure. Residents without easy access to charging at home, including apartments and common ownership communities, are particularly dependent on a reliable and convenient public charging network.
Future Charging Needs
Modeling from the Department of Energy confirms the need to increase capacity for EV charging in key areas to keep pace with fast EV adoption over the next few years. By 2025, drivers may need about 4,000 additional Level 2 ports at public destinations, workplaces, and multifamily buildings and over 100 additional DC Fast Charging ports. Meeting this need will take significant investments from all stakeholders, including charging operators, property owners, and utilities.
The state of Maryland and Montgomery County plan to use funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program to jumpstart this investment. The NEVI program offers $7.5 billion in funding over the next 4 years to expand DC fast charging networks on major highways, expand community charging infrastructure, help ensure reliable equipment.
The first projects funded by the NEVI program were deployed this month in New York and Ohio. This is welcome news to any EV drivers that have taken road trips this holiday season, where it has been common to find equipment out of service and long lines to charge at some locations even while most DC fast chargers worked well, according to user rating group Rate Your Charge. (Image is of a line of EVs waiting to charge in New Jersey during the week of Thanksgiving.)
2024 and Beyond
EVs are on the cusp of mainstream adoption in Montgomery County, but there is still work to do to get there. Next year, DEP will continue to provide educational experiences to residents and pursue every opportunity for expanding charging infrastructure at multifamily buildings and around the community. If infrastructure can be deployed quickly and manufactures continue to deliver models and features that consumers want at a price they can afford, the future will be electric.
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There are lots of exciting opportunities available for job seekers. Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for climate and sustainability jobs.
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Only 10 Electric Car Models Will Qualify for Full Federal EV Tax Credit on January 1, 2024 (Clean Technica)
First EV charging station funded by Biden's infrastructure law goes online (Reuters)
GM, Ford and Tesla Contribute to Setback in EV Sales Growth (Bloomberg)
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Euro Motorcars Germantown Holiday Love Celebration
Saturday December 16th, 2023 from 10am to 4pm
How to Electrify Everything: Electrify Your Ride
Sunday December 17, 2023 from 11am-1pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation River Road continues series of events to encourage residents to Electrify Everything – this open house style event is an opportunity to learn about ways to electrify your home – from the heating and cooling to the kitchen, garage and beyond.
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