Fairfax County Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Strategy
Fairfax County Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Strategy
This project is being co-led by Fairfax County's Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) and Department of Vehicle Services (DVS).
The Issue
Fairfax County is focused on promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to meet its emission reduction goals as outlined in the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) and the county’s Operational Energy Strategy. EVs offer environmental benefits and lower fueling and maintenance costs compared to traditional gas or diesel vehicles.
The county aims for 15% of all light-duty vehicle registrations to be electric by 2030, up from the current 3%. Efforts to transition the county's vehicle fleet to electric have been ongoing, with a target for all county fleet vehicles to be electric or non-carbon emitting by 2035.
Expanding the availability of vehicle charging infrastructure is crucial for achieving these goals and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, has equitable access to the benefits of electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Registrations in Fairfax County (2016-2023)
| Year | Battery EVs | Plug-In Hybrid EVs | Total EVs | EV Registration Percentage | Total Light-Duty Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22,249 | 6,806 | 29,055 | 3.35% | 867,608 |
| 2022 | 13,405 | 5,143 | 18,548 | 2.14% | 868,248 |
| 2021 | 10,020 | 3,766 | 13,786 | 1.59% | 868,889 |
| 2020 | 6,635 | 2,388 | 9,023 | 1.04% | 869,529 |
| 2016 | 1,212 | 1,035 | 2,247 | 0.26% | 876,572 |
Fleet Transition Plan and Community EV Readiness Plan
Working with consulting firm AECOM, Fairfax County staff are analyzing EV infrastructure patterns and projecting future growth in EV registrations. This analysis will identify existing gaps and propose strategies for increasing charging opportunities. An assessment of potential funding sources and financing strategies will also be included.
The project will include two components:
- A transition plan for the county's vehicle fleet. The county fleet consists of diverse vehicle types, ranging from motorcycles to fire trucks to heavy equipment. The fleet transition plan will present capital and operating costs for the conversion and estimates for when suitable electric alternatives for a variety of vehicles will be available. The plan will be integrated with a charging infrastructure strategy that ensures that proper charging equipment is in place before fleet vehicles arrive.
- A Community EV Readiness plan. The strategy will build on prior regional planning work by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, with a focus on Fairfax County’s specific needs. The county has a particular interest in increasing the availability and use of EVs in vulnerable and historically disadvantaged communities to ensure equitable access to EVs and electric vehicle supply equipment.
The final report will be completed and submitted to the Board of Supervisors in July 2025.
Stakeholder Engagement
In addition to conducting working sessions with internal stakeholders, the county understands that diverse representation and public engagement is fundamental to the success of the EV Readiness Strategy. This will include:
- A focus group with external stakeholders.
- A public meeting in June.
Get Involved
Community members are encouraged to participate and share their ideas for making Fairfax County EV Ready. Stay tuned for information about an upcoming public meeting to be held in June 2025.
For more information, please email OEECElectricVehicles@fairfaxcounty.gov or contact Julie Gurnee at 703-533-5345.
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