Chapter 19.80
ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Sections:
19.80.005 Vehicles and traffic.
19.80.001 Definitions.
A. “Battery charging station” means an electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meet or exceed any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
B. “Battery electric vehicle (BEV)” means any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle’s batteries, and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.
C. “Battery exchange station” means a fully automated facility that will enable an electric vehicle with a swappable battery to enter a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged battery through a fully automated process, which meets or exceeds any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.27 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
D. “Charging level” means the standardized indicators of electrical force, or voltage, at which an electric vehicle’s battery is recharged. The terms 1, 2, and 3 are the most common EV charging levels, and include the following specifications:
1. Level 1 is considered slow charging.
2. Level 2 is considered medium charging.
3. Level 3 is considered fast or rapid charging.
E. “Electric scooters and motorcycles” means any two-wheel vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle’s batteries and produces zero emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.
F. “Electric vehicle” means any vehicle that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from the grid, or an off-board source, that is stored on-board for motive purposes. “Electric vehicle” includes:
1. A battery electric vehicle;
2. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle;
3. A neighborhood electric vehicle; and
4. A medium-speed electric vehicle.
G. “Electric vehicle charging station” means a public or private parking space that is served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle. An electric vehicle charging station equipped with Level 1 or Level 2 charging equipment is permitted outright as an accessory use to any principal use.
H. “Electric vehicle charging station – restricted” means an electric vehicle charging station that is:
1. Privately owned and restricted access (e.g., single-family home, executive parking, designated employee parking); or
2. Publicly owned and restricted (e.g., fleet parking with no access to the general public).
I. “Electric vehicle charging station – public” means an electric vehicle charging station that is:
1. Publicly owned and publicly available (e.g., park and ride parking, public library parking lot, on-street parking); or
2. Privately owned and publicly available (e.g., shopping center parking, nonreserved parking in multifamily parking lots).
J. “Electric vehicle infrastructure” means structures, machinery, and equipment necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle, including battery charging stations, rapid charging stations, and battery exchange stations.
K. “Electric vehicle parking space” means any marked parking space that identifies the use to be exclusively for the parking of an electric vehicle.
L. “Medium-speed electric vehicle” means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle, equipped with a roll cage or crush-proof body design, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than 25 miles per hour but not more than 35 miles per hour and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal regulations set forth in Title 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500.
M. “Neighborhood electric vehicle” means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour and conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500.
N. “Nonelectric vehicle” means any motor vehicle that does not meet the definition of “electric vehicle.”
O. “Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)” means an electric vehicle that:
1. Contains an internal combustion engine and also allows power to be delivered to drive wheels by an electric motor;
2. Charges its battery primarily by connecting to the grid or other off-board electrical source;
3. May additionally be able to sustain battery charge using an on-board internal-combustion-driven generator; and
4. Has the ability to travel powered by electricity.
P. “Rapid charging station” means an industrial grade electrical outlet that allows for faster recharging of electric vehicle batteries through higher power levels and that meets or exceeds any standards, codes, and regulations set forth by Chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540. (Ord. 1129 § 1, 2011).
19.80.005 Vehicles and traffic.
A. Designated electric vehicle charging stations – public are reserved for parking and charging electric vehicles only.
B. Electric vehicles may be parked in any space designated for public parking, subject to the restrictions that would apply to any other vehicle that would park in that space. (Ord. 1129 § 1, 2011).
19.80.010 Allowed uses.
A. Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations are allowed in all zones.
B. Level 3 and battery exchange stations are allowed in commercial and industrial zones subject to the requirements of a site plan review found in Chapter 17.49 SLMC. (Ord. 1129 § 1, 2011).