Abstract:
Countries around the globe have set electric vehicle adoption goals to address environmental and health concerns, but engineering planners and community policy experts cannot separate the socioeconomic factors from transportation needs. This mixed-methods case study indicates that because transportation decisions are inextricably linked to health, work, and housing, EV adoption must also address multifaceted human needs. To avoid the transportation mistakes of the past, it is essential that people in communities are consulted in the adoption process and have opportunities so all may actively benefit from the infrastructures and economic growth caused by electrification. “If you don’t know the space in the communities and the harms that they’ve felt, if you don’t hear those stories, you can inadvertently just reimpose harm,” said one study participant. The purpose of this study was to provide an empirically-based, transferable roadmap that can be used to guide community engagement efforts for electrification in other communities. The study was guided by the questions: 1. What factors support or limit procedural integrity (i.e., community decision-making power) and distributive integrity (i.e., community benefits from electrification)? 2. What are community concerns regarding EVs and how do communities hope to benefit? and, 3. What are the factors and processes that lead to strong partnerships relative to EV implementation?
Over the time period of one year, researchers collected in-depth data using multiple methods and sources (public meetings, local news forums, surveys, and interviews) for a rich context that sought to understand community needs and priorities, build from local knowledge, refine research questions to improve relevance, and disseminate results. Data analysis indicated a need for attention to workforce development (e.g., “It would be disingenuous of us to imagine a transition in our electric system that doesn’t include workforce, that doesn’t think about how it impacts people”). A primary outcome of the research is a workforce development plan with best-practices recommendations. Policy experts can use this case study as a guide for further community engagement in any geographic areas planning electrification efforts.
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Learning and EngagementPublication Authors:
- Polly Parkinson
- Fawn Groves
- Emma Mecham
- Amy Wilson-Lopez
- Ivonne Santiago