San Francisco advances kerbside EV charging programme

San Francisco has announced the next phase of the City’s kerbside EV charging pilot programme as it seeks to expand access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

By advancing proposals from three leading electric vehicle charging companies, San Francisco reckons it will move closer to achieving its climate action goals and supporting equitable adoption of EVs for residents without off-street parking.

Community stakeholders

The programme is a collaborative effort between various City departments including the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), San Francisco Public Works, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and the San Francisco Environment Department (SFE). The initiative will also engage community stakeholders to ensure broad support and successful implementation.

The City reports the EV charging providers first apply by detailing their technology and proposed installation locations. The City then reviews applications to ensure they meet the necessary criteria and support San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan and equity goals.

Once installed, the programme establishes a data-gathering partnership with the charging providers to monitor usage, demand, and other key metrics. This information will guide the development of a comprehensive citywide policy for kerbside EV charging. The goal is to implement and install a select number of chargers in the coming months, for up to two years or until San Francisco completes its citywide implementation effort.

This new kerbside street charging plan is the latest City effort to advance electric vehicle charging as one major climate action goals that aligns with other efforts like advancing clean power programmes, eliminating natural gas, building electrification, and funding community programmes around electrification, emissions reduction, urban greening, composting, waste and toxics reduction, and environmental justice programmes.

“By partnering with cutting-edge charging providers, we are not only providing a new service but also paving the way for scalable solutions that can serve communities across the city”

“From our historic cable cars to the autonomous vehicles on our streets, San Francisco’s spirit of innovation is visible all around us,” said mayor London Breed.

“Soon, kerbside charging will be yet another example of how we are leading the way. Over the last few months, we have been working hard to quickly meet the fast-growing charging needs of our residents. By partnering with cutting-edge charging providers, we are not only providing a new service but also paving the way for scalable solutions that can serve communities across the city.”

This next phase of the pilot programme builds on months of collaboration between the City – including the Environment Department, SFMTA, and Public Works – and prospective EV charging providers to first refine their proposals, ensuring feasibility and effectiveness prior to formally applying for the necessary permits and public hearings. This proactive approach minimises financial risk for the providers and ensures that selected locations are well-suited for installation, paving the way for rapid implementation.