If you have issues with a ChargePoint station, please call their 24/7 driver hotline at 1-888-758-4389
For other concerns, RCEA is open from 9am to 5pm M-F to answer your questions at 707-269-1700
RCEA’s Transportation Goals
The goal of RCEA’s Transportation Program is to support the use of low-carbon fuel vehicles in Humboldt County. To do this we:
- Plan, manage, and implement the infrastructure necessary to support zero emissions vehicles
- Provide information, education, and incentives to encourage the adoption of low-carbon fuel vehicles by local residents, businesses, and public agencies
There are many types of fuels other than standard gasoline and diesel that can be used to power motor vehicles. While advanced fuel efforts in Humboldt have thus far focused on electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, improved technology and reduced cost of advanced fuels may make more of these options practical for our area in the future.
Click the blue “Overview of Advanced Fuel Types” bar below to expand the section and learn more.
Types of Electric Vehicles
An electric vehicle (EV) is a car that runs on an electric motor that is powered by electricity. There are several types of EVs on the market, as explained below:
Battery Electric Vehicle: A battery electric vehicle (BEV) operates entirely on electricity and needs to be plugged in to be recharged.
Standard Hybrid: A standard hybrid engine is powered by both a gasoline or electric motor that is recharged by the engine. This car can only be fueled by gas and cannot be plugged in.
Plug-in Hybrid: A plug- in hybrid (PHEV) is powered by an electric motor that receives assistance from a gasoline (or diesel) engine. PHEVs can be plugged in to be recharged. PHEVs are considered ZEVs by the State of California.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric: A hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) runs on an electric motor that is powered through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. This car must be refueled with liquid hydrogen.
Regional Readiness Planning
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in our region and actively seeks funds to plan, implement, and manage electric vehicle public charging infrastructure. We have partnered with the California Energy Commission on several planning projects with the goal of increasing clean transportation in our region. Listed below are details about RCEA’s completed and current low-carbon fuel planning projects.
The Alternative Fuels Readiness Project developed a readiness plan for five rural counties in northwest California (Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino) that provides strategies for the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure and identifies activities to encourage the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in the region. Follow the link to view the Northwest California Alternative Fuels Readiness Plan (PDF).
RCEA and project partners published the North Coast Plug-in Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan in July 2014. The plan represented a coordinated and collaborative effort to plan for and promote EV readiness in Humboldt County and the greater North Coast region. Use the following link to view the North Coast Plug-in Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan (PDF).
The goal of the North Coast and Upstate Fuel Cell Vehicle Readiness Project was to build on the efforts of the Northwest California Alternative Fuels Readiness Project. This project supported the successful introduction of fuel cell vehicles throughout the eight-county North Coast and Upstate regions by catalyzing a regional fuel cell vehicle market and planning for the deployment of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Click to view the Regional Hydrogen Infrastructure Plan (PDF).
Following the completion of the North Coast PEV Readiness Plan, RCEA received funding to implement the plan. Phase 1 of plan implementation was completed in April 2017. View the North Coast Plug-in Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan Implementation (PDF). Phase 2 of plan implementation was completed in November 2019. View the North Coast PEV Readiness Plan Implementation: Phase 2 (PDF). Examples of implementation activities include streamlining permitting processes for charging stations, consulting with potential site hosts to accelerate charging station installs, completing fleet analyses to accelerate fleet adoption of EVs, and hosting ride-and-drives to increase public awareness about EV models on the market.
