How to Get Communities “Energized” About EV Charging: From Skeptics to Champions

Connecting People with Your City Electrification Plans

In our previous post, we covered the Level 2 Charging first approach to begin your city’s electrification journey. This two-phased cost-effective approach leans into placing Level 2 chargers in places people frequent and dwell it often like gyms, parks, town centers and shopping districts. But infrastructure alone doesn’t create an electrified city—enthused and engaged communities do.

The difference between charging stations that sit empty and ones that become community hubs lies in how well you bring people along on the journey. Getting community buy-in isn’t just about avoiding opposition; it’s about creating enthusiasts who help spread the word and drive adoption.

Why Community Engagement Matters

When you involve your community in the electrification process, several things happen:

Skeptics become informed. Instead of worrying about unknown costs or questioning the need, community members understand the practical benefits and see real examples.

Early adopters become ambassadors. EV drivers share their positive experiences, which carries more weight than any government presentation.

Local businesses see opportunities. Rather than viewing charging stations as competition for parking, they recognize them as amenities that bring foot traffic.

Opposition becomes collaboration. When people feel heard and involved, they’re more likely to support rather than resist change.

Three Engagement Strategies That Actually Work

Community engagement strategies that lean into developing personal experiences with EVs accelerate adoption the most. Nothing beats getting people behind the wheel or showing them how to plug-in at their favorite local business or public space. So the following three engagement strategies focus on people interacting with EVs and their infrastructure on a personal level and educate will them on daily EV ownership.

EV Ride-Alongs: Experience Over Explanation

Last year at the Electrify Expo in Orlando, I watched something remarkable happen. My brother, who had been on the fence about EVs for years, spent an afternoon test-driving everything from a Volvo EX30 to a Porsche Taycan. Kids were zipping around on e-bikes with huge grins, adults were getting pinned back in their seats by instant torque, and by the end of the day, my brother was convinced. No presentations, no data sheets or my motor-mouth going—just pure experience. Just a month later, he leased a Mustang Mach-E.

That’s the power of letting people experience EVs rather than explaining them. Organize ride-along events where community members can feel what electric driving is actually like.

Make it practical: Drive to your new charging locations so people can see how easy it is to charge at places they already visit. Remove the mystery of “that shiny new thing in the parking lot” and show them the convenience of going electric.

Address concerns directly: Range anxiety? Show them how far the car can go on a single charge. Worried about charging time? Let them see how quickly they can add miles while grabbing coffee.

Include diverse voices: Don’t just invite EV enthusiasts. Include parents concerned about air quality, business owners curious about costs, and renters wondering about charging access.

EV Charging Meet-Ups: Creating Community Around Charging

Turn your charging stations into gathering places by hosting regular meet-ups where EV drivers can recharge their cars and themselves.

Think of these as “Cars and Coffee” events where EV enthusiasts and curious community members can connect. These gatherings serve multiple purposes:

Visibility: Passersby see EVs aren’t just for tech-savvy early adopters—they’re for families, professionals, and everyday people.

Feedback: Direct input from real EV drivers about your infrastructure helps you understand what’s working and what needs improvement.

Peer education: Nothing beats hearing from your neighbor about their actual EV experience—the good, the challenging, and the surprising.

Network building: EV drivers connect with each other, creating an informal support network that helps newcomers navigate their electric transition.

Partner with your utility or local EV groups to host these regularly. Even monthly meet-ups can create momentum and ongoing community engagement.

Educational Pop-Ups: Meeting People Where They Are

Rather than expecting people to come to city meetings, bring EV education to existing community events.

Science fairs: Show students how electric vehicles work and connect to broader environmental topics they’re already studying.

Back-to-school events: Help parents understand that driving electric is practical for family life, school pickups, and daily routines.

Note: School events can be perfect opportunities to introduce the possibility of electric bus fleets that keep the air cleaner and can support the grid.

Earth Day celebrations: Connect EV infrastructure to broader sustainability goals the community already supports.

Farmers markets and festivals: Set up information booths where people are already gathering and relaxed.

The key is making EV infrastructure relevant to people’s existing interests and concerns rather than treating it as a separate issue.

Addressing Different Community Perspectives

It’s important to consider the perspectives of various stakeholders in your community. They need to understand how EV infrastructure affects their daily activities. Here are some stakeholder view points to consider:

For the Business Community

Frame charging stations as economic development tools. Show how they:

• Increase customer spending for those charging near or at your business
• Position the city as innovative and forward-thinking and an easy stop for EV drivers
• Create local jobs for installation, maintenance, and operation
• Support tourism by making the city welcoming to EV travelers

For Environmental Advocates

Emphasize air quality improvements and climate benefits. Highlight:

• Reduced tailpipe emissions in your community
• Connection to renewable energy goals
• Immediate health benefits, especially for children and those with respiratory conditions
• Leadership in addressing climate change at the local level

For Budget-Conscious Residents

Focus on practical economics. Discuss:

• Available grants and incentives that reduce city costs
• Economic benefits from increased tourism and business activity
• Long-term savings for residents who choose electric vehicles
• Job creation in the growing clean energy economy

For Skeptics and Concerned Residents

Provide transparent information and realistic expectations:

• Actual costs and funding sources for infrastructure projects
• Timeline for implementation and expansion
• Maintenance and operational responsibilities
• How the infrastructure serves existing residents, not just visitors

Creating Your Community Engagement Plan

Let’s consider all we’ve covered so far into a strategic plan to help your community get “charged up” about EV infrastructure throughout their city:

Month 1-2: Listen First

• Survey residents about transportation needs and EV awareness
• Host informal coffee sessions to understand concerns
• Connect with existing community groups and organizations

Month 3-4: Educate and Experience

• Organize ride-along events with local EV owners
• Present at community organization meetings
• Set up information booths at existing events

Month 5-6: Build Momentum

• Launch regular EV meet-ups at your planned charging locations
• Partner with schools for educational programming
• Engage local businesses in planning conversations

Month 7+: Maintain Engagement

• Regular updates on project progress
• Ongoing meet-ups and educational opportunities
• Celebrate milestones and success stories

Measuring Community Support

Community engagement will be an ongoing process that will require success metrics that will help you understand how to continually improve the EV driver’s experiences throughout your city. Here are some ways to track engagement:

• Attendance at events and meetings
• Feedback surveys before and after engagement activities
• Social media engagement and local news coverage
• Volunteer participation in events and planning
• Business interest in hosting charging or supporting events
• Charger utilization at new EV charging sites

What Success Looks Like

With rightly coordinated and intentional community engagement, EV charging leaders should expect a few different visions come to life that show EV adoption is taking off in your city. When community engagement works well, you’ll see:

• Increased EV registrations as more residents make the switch
• Business partnership requests from organizations wanting to host charging
• Volunteer advocates who help with events and outreach
• Media coverage that’s positive and focuses on community benefits
• Political support from elected officials who see constituent enthusiasm

Community engagement transforms EV infrastructure from a city project into a community achievement. When people feel involved in creating their electrified future, they become invested in its success.

Next in this series: We’ll examine how three different locations in the U.S. have successfully implemented comprehensive EV infrastructure strategies and what lessons your city can apply from their ongoing stories.