Evaluation of California Transportation Electrification Programs

A Comprehensive Analysis of Charging Infrastructure

California is leading the nation in the transition to electric vehicles, driven by ambitious state policies and utility-led charging infrastructure programs. Representing the single largest evaluation of its kind, the Cadmus team is evaluating the impacts and challenges of these utility investments, which total $750 million across four major California energy providers—Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Liberty Utilities. These early utility investments are working in tandem with the state’s increasingly stringent vehicle mandates to transform the transportation market.

The multiyear third-party evaluation aims to answer critical questions about the role of utilities in driving mass adoption of electric vehicles, especially for light, medium, and heavy-duty fleets. Through extensive data collection, the study focuses on shedding light on how utility-led charging programs can support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and shape future policies. The Cadmus evaluation team is working to answer:

• What factors ignite and sustain demand for fleet electric vehicles? 
• How can utilities most effectively scale their EV charging programs? 
• What strategies unlock latent EV adoption, particularly for commercial and industrial customers?
• How can utilities leverage data to continuously improve their transportation electrification initiatives?

Download the Evaluation Reports:

Standard Review Projects and AB 1082/1083 Pilots Evaluation Year 2023 (Year 3)

Standard Review Projects and AB 1082/1083 Pilots Evaluation Year 2022 (Year 2)

Standard Review Projects and AB 1082/1083 Pilots Evaluation Year 2021 (Year 1)

A Front-Row Seat to Transformation

The Cadmus-led evaluation team has a unique vantage point, amassing the largest data sets on EV charging, utility incentives, and project costs. The team is using this trove of real-world information to assess the impacts of these infrastructure investments on the market.

A key focus area is the electrification of school buses with 67 fleets represented as of December 2023. This includes an in-depth look at Cajon Valley Union School District’s deployment of vehicle-to-grid-capable electric school buses in the San Diego Gas & Electric utility territory.

The multiyear analysis centers on programmatic approaches, consumer responses, and market conditions to understand the full context in which these impacts—or lack thereof—can be measured and attributed. The study has two major implications for state policymakers and utility planners. First, real-world findings specific to transportation electrification are available to help guide investment allocations, and second, all assumptions must be continually assessed and revised to support the success of transportation electrification projects in each jurisdiction and at scale. The evaluation is led by Cadmus and Energetics, with support from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; University of California, Davis; ZMA; and DAVenergy.

As California continues to lead the nation’s transition to clean transportation, this evaluation offers a unique window into the real-world dynamics shaping the market. Cadmus is proud to contribute to these learnings to help guide the path forward. Talk to an expert to learn more.