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As more people drive electric vehicles, residents of older neighborhoods are facing a problem newer neighborhoods were designed to avoid: charging. Historic neighborhoods were often built before driveways, off-street parking and garages. Their often narrow streets, old electrical systems and close-set homes can make it difficult for residents to charge at home. And those who park on the street may be forced to use public chargers. Others with garages may need expensive upgrades to their electrical system. In response, cities are trying a range of approaches. Some are adding charging stations on the street for people without driveways or garages. Others are experimenting with parking meters and streetlights that include a charger. And in some communities, officials are looking at whether residents could string up a charging cable from their garage across the sidewalk. There's concern this could pose safety risks and may not be accessible to everyone. In some ways, the shift to electric vehicles raises an equity question. Typically, it's easier for higher-income homeowners to add a charger at their home. Renters and residents of multifamily buildings may not have that option. Some advocates think public investment should be directed to neighborhoods where people don't have garages or driveways. Too often, they argue, chargers end up going in wealthier and newer neighborhoods. Another consideration in historic neighborhoods is the need to consider adding equipment to older buildings or in historic districts. And utility companies would need to ask whether their power lines and transformers could handle more demand, especially from drivers charging at night. Transportation planners believe, with thoughtful planning, even older neighborhoods could add charging. They point to curbside charging, public and workplace charging and incentives for owners of apartment buildings to install equipment. Depending on their local infrastructure and funding, residents of older neighborhoods may see more or less change over time. More people are moving to electric vehicles. And in neighborhoods built well before charging was common, they'll need to change without sacrificing what makes them special.

As electric vehicle ownership continues to rise, residents of some older neighborhoods could have some challenges because those communities were built before the advent of garages and driveways for off-street parking. Those narrow streets and aging electrical systems with closely spaced homes can make charging your car an issue. Many drivers in areas with street parking will need to rely on public chargers. For some residents with garages their situation may require costly electrical upgrades. Cities are trying to come to grips with the situation from a couple of angles. In some communities charging stations are being installed at the curb to help areas with limited off-street options. Others are trying chargers attached to streetlights and parking meters reducing the need for new utility poles and construction. And in some places rules are being considered to allow a resident to run a charging cable across a sidewalk as chargers in the present configuration would make that difficult. There are questions of fairness as well because higher-income homeowners will be in a better position to install private chargers while renters and those in multifamily buildings may have limited options. Advocates call for public investment first in areas where residents don’t have driveways and garages. Historic preservation and older buildings may present challenges to planning electric vehicle infrastructure, especially in historic districts. In addition to additional reviews for historic preservation, utility companies will also need to assess whether local transformers and power lines will be able to handle the demand of many vehicles charging overnight. “People in the older neighborhoods, the communities, need to realize that it’s not going to happen overnight,” says David Kaczor of Boyle Engineering, in reference to the funding and infrastructure required for vehicle-charging stations. He recommends a combination of curbside stations, workplace and public charging, and incentives for apartment owners to provide shared equipment.

The increasing number of people buying electric vehicles (EVs) has created an issue for residents of many older communities, which was typically avoided by developers when creating new communities. This is because there are very few options for residents of older communities to charge their EVs. Before there was a need for off-street parking, driveways, or garage spaces to be included in home designs, many historic neighborhoods were constructed. Due to the narrowness of the streets, age of the electrical system, and proximity of the homes, there are multiple issues that can cause home-charging to be problematic. Those that live in these types of neighborhoods and are forced to park their vehicle on the street will often times have to utilize public charging stations. On the other hand, residents that have garages, may have to pay high costs for upgrading their electrical systems. Cities are addressing the issue using multiple approaches. For example, some cities have installed curbside charging stations in areas where there is little to no available parking on-street. Other cities are evaluating chargers that can be installed on existing street lights or parking meters, which eliminates the need to build additional utility poles and create more construction. In addition, officials in a number of communities are reviewing regulations that permit residents to extend charging cables across sidewalks; however, there are still safety and accessibility concerns. The transition has created concerns over equality. Those with higher incomes tend to be able to get their own charging stations; however, those that rent and live in multi-family units will have limited options. Advocates of equity suggest that when funding for public charging infrastructure is allocated, it should be done so with an emphasis on low-income neighborhoods whose residents do not have access to private parking spaces (i.e. driveways or garages) instead of placing chargers in newer or more affluent communities. When historic preservation is added to the equation there is an extra level of difficulty. For example, if you want to install new equipment on a building that has been designated historic or if you are working within a district that has received protection status, you will likely need to go through several additional approval processes. Additionally, utility providers must evaluate if the existing transformers and electrical distribution systems are capable of handling increased demands created by the charging of multiple vehicles simultaneously during overnight hours. Planners of transportation believe that, despite being faced with numerous challenges, old neighborhoods will be able to adapt to these changes through proper planning. The planners suggest using a combination of on-street charging stations, work place and public charging stations, and providing financial incentives to landlords of multi-family buildings so that they install shared charging equipment. The speed at which residents experience change will be determined by how quickly they can fund their own local government and develop its infrastructure. Once there are many more people driving electric cars than now, those communities developed prior to the time we began using electric cars will need to upgrade while still maintaining the uniqueness of each community.

Residents living in older areas are seeing the difficulties of charging their electric vehicles. Historic areas often lacked garage spaces, driveways and off-road parking. This means there is often little space for charging at home due to small roads, old wiring and close together homes. Those with roadside parking might be forced to use public charging points and those with garages may have to pay large costs to upgrade their electricity. Some cities are looking at adding charging points to the curb. Some are trialing charging points built into streetlights or parking machines to reduce the amount of new poles and build needed. Some communities are also looking at changing regulations to allow residents to lay cables across the pavement but there are still concerns about safety and accessibility. Those with higher incomes are usually in a better position to install private charging points. Those renting and living in multi-family housing may have less options. Advocates argue that public money should be invested into areas where people do not have driveways and garages. When it comes to historic areas there could be extra considerations. Extra checks could be needed to fit equipment onto older buildings or in conservation areas. The utility company will also need to check if the transformers and cables running through the area can cope with the extra demand. Transportation planners argue that it is possible to retrofit older areas. A mixture of curb charging, charging at work and public charging points would help. Incentives could also be put in place for apartment owners to add extra equipment. This will depend on how much money is available to local areas. As more drivers move to electric vehicles areas that have not had charging points in place for many years will have to update their areas without compromising the character they have.

With more people owning electric cars, however, those living in old neighborhoods are faced with a dilemma that newer areas are designed not to confront – the issue of charging. Older neighborhoods were developed prior to the days when garages and driveways became a regular feature of housing development. Narrow roads, outdated electrical connections and compact housing make it impossible to recharge cars at home. People living on the street would be forced to use public rechargers, whereas those with garage have to undertake expensive electrical work. Cities respond to the challenges in various ways. Some are installing public curbside chargers in neighborhoods with insufficient space for parking off-street. Some cities experiment with installing chargers attached to light poles or pay stations in an attempt to reduce installation costs and the need for new utility poles. Several communities are reviewing regulations allowing residents to run electrical cables from their houses through the sidewalk. Fairness has also become an issue. While wealthier homeowners will have a better chance to put their own chargers in, people living in apartments may face some difficulties. Proponents of public investments argue that charging infrastructure should be installed in those neighborhoods where people lack garages and driveways. In addition to the above issues, historic preservation adds one more layer of complications – installation of the equipment in the historical neighborhood or buildings will require additional permissions. Finally, utilities have to consider whether there is enough capacity in the local transformer stations and power lines, especially taking into account the overnight loads on the system. Transportation specialists believe, however, that older neighborhoods can adapt to changes with proper planning. They recommend developing a mix of curbside stations, workplace and public charging, and financial incentive programs to induce apartment building owners to invest in their own recharging facilities. Residents

With more people driving electric cars, homeowners in established neighborhoods are grappling with an issue that builders of newer subdivisions usually have plans for: Where do they plug their cars in? Lots of old neighborhoods weren't built with garages, driveways or off-street parking. And even if residents have garages, narrow streets and cramped lots and outdated electrical systems can make charging at home difficult. People whose cars park on the street often will need to use public chargers; residents with garages sometimes will have to upgrade their wiring. Local governments are tackling the problem by deploying a range of solutions. In some places, officials are putting charging stations along the curb in areas where few residents have off-street parking. Other cities are experimenting with installing chargers on streetlights or parking meters. That requires less construction and no need to dig up sidewalks and lay conduit for more utility poles, like what's needed for a charging station. And in some towns, regulators are considering allowing residents to run cords from their houses to parked cars on the sidewalk, although there are still issues around safety and pedestrians' right of way. There's also the issue of equity. Wealthier residents are likely to be more able to install charging stations at home than low- and middle-income residents who rent or live in multifamily housing. Some advocates have suggested that cities should prioritize investing in chargers in places where residents don't have garages or driveways, rather than building them in newly developed areas where they're easier to deploy. Preserving historic architecture also could create complications, since installing chargers in a historic building or district may require special approvals. Utility companies, too, will need to figure out whether local power grids and transformers can support additional demand when tens of thousands of drivers start charging at night. Transportation experts say old neighborhoods can work with a combination of charging on the curb, workplace and public charging, and encouraging landlords to invest in chargers at apartment complexes. It will be up to individual municipalities to decide how quickly to make upgrades as electric vehicles become more common.

With more people owning EVs, residents in older neighborhoods are facing a dilemma that newer communities were often designed to dodge: Where to plug in. Most older neighborhoods were developed long before garages, driveways and off-street parking were common. Close-together houses, small electrical panels and narrow roads can make home charging a challenge. If you park on the street, you may need to use public chargers, or if you have a garage, you might have to upgrade your electrical system. Cities are taking a variety of approaches. Several cities are deploying curbside chargers in neighborhoods that have few off-street parking spaces. Others are experimenting with chargers embedded in streetlights or parking meters to limit new utility pole installation and construction. A handful of municipalities are reevaluating policies that let residents run extension cords across sidewalks, amid safety and accessibility issues. The switch has also prompted concerns about equity. Wealthier homeowners are more likely to have driveways or garages to install private chargers, and renters or those in apartment buildings may have limited options. Critics argue that public investments should be targeted toward communities that don't have driveways or garages to park in, not richer or newer parts of town. Historic preservation might complicate things further. It is required for equipment installations in historic districts or on historic buildings to seek extra review. Utility companies will have to check the capacity of local transformers and power lines, especially when many drivers charge through the night. Even with the roadblocks, transportation planners say aging neighborhoods can transition with proper planning. They advocate a "blend of curbside stations, workplace and public charging, and inducements for owners of apartment buildings to retrofit shared gear." For residents, the speed of change will also depend on the level of investment and infrastructure in their area. Communities that already exist long before a driver is charging their first electric vehicle will need to evolve without sacrificing their identity.

With growing adoption of electric vehicles, residents of older neighborhoods are experiencing a challenge that developers of newer neighborhoods typically sought to avoid: where to charge. Most historic communities predate widespread availability of garages, driveways and off-street parking. Narrow streets, aging electrical systems and close spacing of buildings make it difficult to provide home charging. Street-parked residents must rely primarily on public charging facilities, whereas those with garages generally require costly improvements in electrical capacity. Cities are responding with a variety of strategies. Some are providing curbside charging stations for areas with little or no off-street parking. Others are testing integrated charging systems on streetlights or parking meters to eliminate the need for new utility poles and construction. Officials of several communities also are revising regulations to permit installation of charging cables across sidewalks, although concerns remain about safety and accessibility. The resulting situation has raised questions about equity. Wealthier homeowners generally have greater capacity for installation of private charging facilities, whereas renters and residents of multi-family buildings have fewer options. Advocates emphasize that public investments in charging facilities should give priority to neighborhoods with no driveways or garages, rather than to newer or more affluent areas. Historic preservation further complicates the situation. Installation of equipment on older buildings or within historic districts requires additional review. Plus, it will be necessary to determine whether existing capacity of local transformers and electric distribution lines is sufficient to accommodate increased demand, especially for large numbers of vehicles charging overnight. Even so, transportation planners believe that older neighborhoods can achieve adaptation with careful planning. Integrating curbside charging, workplace and public electric vehicle charging, and incentives for owners of multi-family buildings to provide shared equipment should be especially effective. The rate of future change will depend on availability of local financial resources and infrastructure. With increasing use of electric vehicles, older communities will need to be modernized without loss of those characteristics that provide the basis for their uniqueness.

As more people buy electric cars, folks in older neighborhoods are running into a problem that newer places were usually built to avoid: figuring out where to charge. A lot of older communities were built before garages, driveways, and places to park off the street were common. With narrow streets, old electrical systems, and houses packed close together, charging at home can be tough. People who have to park on the street might have to use public charging spots, and even those with garages might end up paying a lot to get their electrical systems upgraded. Cities are trying different things to solve this. Some are putting charging stations right on the curb in areas where people don't have much off-street parking. Others are experimenting with chargers built into lampposts or parking meters, which cuts down on the need for new poles and construction. In a few towns, officials are also looking at changing rules that let people run charging cords across sidewalks, but there are still worries about safety and making sure everyone can get by. This shift has also brought up questions about fairness. People with more money tend to have an easier time putting in their own chargers, while renters and people living in apartment buildings might not have as many choices. Some people argue that public money should go to neighborhoods where residents don't have driveways or garages, instead of putting chargers mostly in newer or wealthier areas. Trying to keep historic buildings looking the way they should makes things even more complicated. Putting in equipment on older buildings or in historic districts might need extra approvals. Power companies also have to check if the local transformers and power lines can handle the extra load, especially when many drivers charge their cars overnight. Even with these challenges, transportation planners say that older neighborhoods can make the switch if they plan carefully. They suggest a mix of curbside stations, charging at work and in public, and giving owners of apartment buildings reasons to install shared charging equipment. For the people living there, how fast things change will depend on local money and the existing infrastructure. As more drivers move to electric cars, communities built long before charging was a thing will need to update their systems without losing the unique character that makes them special.

As electric vehicle ownership rises, residents in older neighborhoods are confronting a challenge that newer developments were often designed to avoid: where to charge. In the past, many neighborhoods were built without considering the need for garages, driveways, or off-street parking. As a result, the streets are often narrow, the electrical systems are outdated, and the homes are closely packed together, making it a challenge to charge electric vehicles at home. For people who have to park their cars on the street, they usually have to use public charging stations. On the other hand, those who have garages may still face problems, like having to pay for expensive electrical upgrades to make their homes charging-friendly. This can be a big issue for people who want to own electric vehicles but live in older communities. Cities are coming up with different ways to deal with this issue. For example, some are putting charging stations right on the curb in areas where people don't have a lot of space to park off the street. Others are trying out chargers that are built into streetlights or parking meters, which means they don't need to put up new poles or do a lot of construction. In some communities, officials are also looking at the rules that let people run charging cables across the sidewalk, but they're still worried about safety and making sure everyone can get around easily. The shift to electric vehicles has raised concerns about fairness. People with more money can easily install their own chargers at home, but those who rent or live in apartments often don't have that option. Supporters argue that the government should focus on putting chargers in neighborhoods where people don't have driveways or garages, rather than putting them in newer or richer areas. This way, everyone has a chance to use electric vehicles, not just the wealthy. It's not fair that some people have more access to chargers just because of where they live. The goal should be to make electric vehicles available to everyone, regardless of their income or where they live. Preserving old buildings and areas can make things more complicated. When you want to put in new equipment, like charging stations, in older buildings or neighborhoods that are protected, you often need to get extra approvals. Also, the companies that provide electricity have to figure out if the existing transformers and power lines can handle the extra energy needed, especially since a lot of people tend to charge their cars at night. Despite the obstacles, transportation planners say older neighborhoods can adapt with careful planning. They recommend combining curbside stations, workplace and public charging, and incentives for apartment owners to add shared equipment. As people start using more electric vehicles, neighborhoods will have to update their systems to keep up. But they also need to make sure they don't lose what makes them special. The speed of this change will depend on how much money is available locally and what kind of infrastructure is already in place. This is a big challenge for communities that were built a long time ago, before anyone thought about charging cars. They need to find a way to modernize without changing the things that make them unique and interesting.