Driving Electric — 10 Ways Cities Can Move on Electric Mobility in a Changing Landscape

The guide outlines ten ways US cities can advance electric mobility through permitting reform, building codes, targeted public charging, and shared e-mobility services to ensure an equitable transition.

• Cities can accelerate EV charger installation by automating and centralizing permitting processes. Chicago's 'Drive Electric Chicago' portal serves as a one-stop shop for permitting, listing endorsed infrastructure, rebates, and certified installers, which can result in approval turnarounds in a single day for certain multifamily applications.
• Implementing 'EV-readiness' in building codes for multifamily housing reduces future installation costs by requiring electrical infrastructure (conduit and panel capacity) during construction. Examples include Tucson, which mandated this in 2022, and Mesa, which requires at least 5% of new multifamily units with designated parking to have fully operational L2 chargers before occupancy.
• To address 'charging deserts,' cities are using data-driven siting for public chargers and leveraging the public right-of-way. Portland has implemented pole-mounted EV charging on existing utility poles and streetlights to provide access for residents without private driveways.
• Integrating shared e-mobility into 'Mobility Hubs' reduces reliance on personal vehicles and addresses first- and last-mile barriers. Austin's program co-locates public transit, e-bike share, e-scooters, and electric shuttles in historically disadvantaged communities.
• Financial incentives and shared models increase access to affordable e-mobility. Atlanta provides point-of-sale rebates for e-bikes, offering up to $2,000 for cargo e-bikes to income-qualified residents. Pittsburgh's POGOH e-bikeshare offers a 'Mobility Justice rate' for veterans, government assistance recipients, and academic affiliates.
• Community-based EV carsharing and support for ridehailing drivers ensure electrification reaches low-income areas. Albuquerque uses GoForth to provide shared EVs near affordable housing, while Minneapolis and St. Paul invest in fast-charging at transit hubs and airports to support ridehailing drivers.
• Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZ) for freight can reduce urban pollution and congestion. Santa Monica established the first one-square-mile Zero Emissions Delivery Zone (ZEDZ) in the US to test clean last-mile delivery solutions in its commercial core.

APA

RMI (2026). Driving Electric — 10 Ways Cities Can Move on Electric Mobility in a Changing Landscape. https://rmi.org/resources/driving-electric-10-ways-cities-can-move-on-electric-mobility-in-a-changing-landscape/

Chicago

RMI. Driving Electric — 10 Ways Cities Can Move on Electric Mobility in a Changing Landscape. 2026. https://rmi.org/resources/driving-electric-10-ways-cities-can-move-on-electric-mobility-in-a-changing-landscape/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Driving Electric — 10 Ways Cities Can Move on Electric Mobility in a Changing Landscape |date=9 June 2026 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/driving-electric-10-ways-cities-can-move-on-electric-mobility-in-a-changing-landscape/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2026driving, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Driving Electric — 10 Ways Cities Can Move on Electric Mobility in a Changing Landscape}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/driving-electric-10-ways-cities-can-move-on-electric-mobility-in-a-changing-landscape/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }