PowerFlex Helps County of Santa Barbara Achieve Major Milestone in EV Charging Infrastructure

The County of Santa Barbara is a vibrant region along California’s Central Coast, home to more than 450,000 residents and encompassing a diverse mix of cities and communities, including Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Santa Maria. Renowned for its natural beauty, environmental leadership, and commitment to sustainability, Santa Barbara County serves as a model for clean energy initiatives and forward-thinking public infrastructure.

The Challenge

Meeting Growing Demand for Sustainable Transportation Solutions

The County of Santa Barbara set out to support its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) policy by delivering a comprehensive EV charging network across multiple county facilities. The challenge involved deploying a large number of charging stations to serve both the county's fleet operations and public users, while managing costs and infrastructure limitations. With the goal of maximizing access and supporting growing EV adoption, the County needed a solution that could optimize power usage, avoid expensive electrical upgrades, and ensure fair, sustainable pricing for all users.

PowerFlex’s Solution

Intelligent, Cost-Effective EV Charging Optimized by Adaptive Load Management®

INSTALLATION TYPE

EV Charging

INSTALLATION SIZE

245 Level 2 Chargers
6 DC Fast Chargers

LOCATIONS

17+ sites around Santa Barbara County, CA

INCENTIVES

CALeVIP

To meet the County of Santa Barbara’s ambitious goals, PowerFlex implemented a comprehensive EV charging solution featuring 251 charging ports across multiple county facilities, including 245 Level 2 chargers and 6 DC Fast Charging stations. In addition to the chargers already installed, the County plans to deploy more than 175 additional chargers in the coming years. This approach not only supports the County’s fleet and public charging needs but also lays the groundwork for future expansion as EV adoption continues to grow.

Maximizing Access and Transparency for the Community

The County of Santa Barbara’s EV charging network is designed to serve county employees, residents, and visitors alike. Public charging stations are easily accessible through the top-rated PowerFlex App, which allows users to locate available chargers, start and monitor charge sessions, and manage payments. To ensure fair use and availability, the County has implemented a parking fee after four hours of charging, followed by a per-minute rate. Pricing for each location is transparently displayed in the app, reflecting the unique cost of electricity and supporting the County’s commitment to sustainable, community-focused infrastructure.

Optimizing Energy Use and Reducing Costs with Adaptive Load Management®

To overcome infrastructure limitations and control costs, the County deployed PowerFlex’s Adaptive Load Management® (ALM) technology at its charging sites. Unlike traditional charging approaches, ALM considers factors such as parking duration, charging needs, and facility power capacity to optimize energy distribution. This allows the County to install more charging stations without expensive electrical upgrades, reducing implementation costs by up to 60%. Additionally, electricity output is reduced during peak demand hours to mitigate demand charges and encourage off-peak charging, further supporting the County’s sustainability and cost management goals.