Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom Closes Emergency Preparedness Gap in California’s EV Charging Stations

SACRAMENTO, CA - Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom's AB 2543 passed the California State Assembly, advancing legislation to strengthen emergency planning for electric vehicle fast-charging stations before disasters and power outages disrupt access to critical transportation infrastructure.

Authored by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, who serves as Chair of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee, AB 2543 would require the state to identify direct-current fast-charging sites that are important to keep operating during emergencies and ensure those sites have plans for backup power. AB 2543 closes a gap in California's emergency planning as more residents, businesses, and public agencies rely on electric vehicles for daily travel, evacuations, and operations.

"California is no stranger to wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and power outages, and how we prepare and respond can be the difference between lives saved and catastrophes prevented. AB 2543 ensures our emergency planning keeps pace by integrating EV charging infrastructure into broader disaster response."

-Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom

California is already planning for a major expansion of EV charging infrastructure. The California Energy Commission projects the state will need more than 1 million public and shared private chargers by 2030 to support passenger electric vehicles, with additional charging needs for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

AB 2543 would require emergency planners to consider factors such as population density, geography, the number of chargers at a station, and the distance to the next fast-charging site when determining which locations are important to maintain during an emergency. The bill would also require identified site operators to submit emergency management plans and require electric utilities to consider EV charging stations in their emergency response planning.