The City of Oakland announced today the release of its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Action Plan. The Plan, approved unanimously by the City Council in October 2022, provides a roadmap for transitioning to a zero emission transportation system by 2045. It centers a holistic approach to mobility: Transition as many people and activities away from private automobiles as possible; and ensure that all remaining vehicles run on carbon-free, renewable electricity.
Vehicle emissions have negative health and environmental impacts, which disproportionately impact “frontline” communities. Frontline communities are those most affected by the climate crisis, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); low-income; elderly; children; and disabled communities. This Plan will help to ensure that these communities benefit from, and have access to, clean transportation options, high quality jobs, and lower transportation costs.
The Plan includes 36 Actions across six themes, including existing and multifamily buildings, public and curbside charging, medium- and heavy-duty fleets, electric micromobility, and workforce.
Implementation has already begun. Early actions include ensuring that more low-income, BIPOC, and other frontline communities have convenient access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure so that purchasing or using electric vehicles can become a reality. City staff are also working with partner agencies, such as East Bay Community Energy and the Port of Oakland, to support delivery and logistics businesses in transitioning to zero-emission technologies.
Starting in 2021, the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) led public engagement for the Plan in partnership with community-based organization (CBO) partners TransForm, the Spanish Speaking Citizen’s Foundation, and West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project. Outreach included community workshops in Fruitvale and West Oakland, technical stakeholder meetings, online surveys, and in-depth conversations with community advisors representing underserved priority neighborhoods in the City.
The ZEV Action Plan, supported by a California Department of Transportation Sustainable Communities Grant, stems from Oakland’s 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP). Adopted in 2020, the ECAP charts a path toward achieving Oakland’s 2045 Carbon neutrality target, building resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis, and ensuring that frontline communities benefit first and foremost from climate actions.
For more information, or to download the Plan, visit the ZEV Action Plan website https://www.oaklandca.gov/proj... or email ZEV@oaklandca.gov.
Quotes about the Plan
"We are proud that the City of Oakland has long been a leader in ambitious and equity-driven climate action. It's critical that we continue that progress both for current residents and for our children and future generations. The ZEV Action Plan will keep moving the City forward while, critically, ensuring frontline communities will benefit from cleaner air and more reliable forms of transportation."
- City of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao
“OakDOT is excited to release the ZEV Action Plan, the result of over two years of research and outreach. Recently, OakDOT staff have expanded EV charging into frontline communities through grant funding and partnerships, but we have so much more to do. The Plan will guide our efforts to equitably expand ZEV charging and access throughout Oakland. At the same time, it will put Oakland at the front of the line for growing State and Federal EV grant funding.”
- Fred Kelley, Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) Director
“This Plan keeps the focus on making clean, affordable, and reliable transportation options available for Oakland’s frontline communities. This transition to electric cars and trucks will improve public health and safety, all while eliminating our largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.”
– Daniel L. Hamilton, Oakland Sustainability and Resilience Director
“The ZEV Action Plan fulfills one of the promises of the Equitable Climate Action Plan, and will help ensure that the benefits of clean transportation flow first and foremost to frontline communities. Robust and equitable EV charging infrastructure is part of a resilient electric grid, which will help Oakland respond to the impacts of the climate crisis.”
– Joe DeVries, Deputy City Administrator and Chief Resilience Officer