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Mayor and city agencies mark rollout of electric vehicle charging stations in city garages
Summary
City leaders announced the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in municipal parking garages, pointing to Hetch Hetchy power and state law changes as key enablers and pledging additional stations this year.
San Francisco officials on March 13 marked the city’s ongoing installation of electric vehicle charging stations in municipal garages and outlined plans to add more chargers this year.
Mayor Ed Lee described the rollout as part of a broader push to reduce reliance on oil and to pair transit-first policy with options for drivers who need single-occupancy vehicles. “These are the cars of the future,” the mayor said, noting the city’s plan to install 100 chargers in public facilities and that private operators are adding chargers in hotels and garages as well.
Michael Carlin, deputy general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, said the first round of chargers is operational in city-owned garages and thanked multiple city departments for coordinating the work. The city said the municipal chargers are powered by Hetch Hetchy hydroelectric generation, which it described as a zero-carbon source for charging.
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who sponsored AB 631 at the state level, said the law clarified that charging-station operators are not subject to utility regulation and that the change helped unlock private investment. “This gives certainty to the electric vehicle charging market so operators can invest,” Ma said.
Department of Environment director Melanie Nutter and other city staff said about 49 charging stalls are installed so far, with more planned; the mayor said an additional 33 chargers were expected before year’s end. City officials said the municipal chargers would be free to use at city facilities through 2013 to encourage public adoption.
Officials also noted the city’s broader climate goals: transportation accounts for a significant portion of municipal greenhouse-gas emissions, and electric vehicles charged with clean electricity are one element of a multi-pronged approach that includes transit, biking and walking.
The presentation included technical and program details and reflected coordination among the Public Utilities Commission, Department of the Environment, Municipal Transportation Agency, Department of Public Works and other city offices. Officials encouraged private property owners and developers to add chargers on multifamily and commercial sites as well.
No legislation was enacted at the meeting; the rollout was presented as an interagency implementation and outreach milestone following state-level clarification in AB 631.
