This study examines the critically important ways in which electric distribution utilities can support and enable the U.S. transition to full electrification of the transportation sector in an equitable manner. It evaluates the state of the market, reviews characteristics of charging behavior for different use cases and applications, and identifies what roles electric distribution utilities can, and should, play. The study finds that utilities have key roles in two broad respects: deployment and energy management. Without utility involvement in deployment of charging infrastructure, the electrification of transportation likely be inadequate to meet policy targets, and without utility involvement in managing the load, the electrification of transportation will require costly grid upgrades that will undermine the value proposition of electrification. Additionally, a cross-cutting theme applicable to both of these roles has to do with equity – ensuring that all demographics have access to – and can benefit from – transportation electrification
