Arlington County is making serious headway in its environmental initiatives with a notable increase in the availability of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations for public use.
According to the Arlington County website, they expanded its network of charging stations, increasing from just 15 a few months ago to 31 operational stations. These include high-traffic locations such as Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center and Arlington Mill Community Center, with six stations at the lot near the Bozman Government Center in Courthouse. Another 12 stations are set to be activated at Central Library.
The expansion of charging stations has gained attention, with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the County securing a federal grant to further increase the number of stations. This infrastructure development is an important step for Arlington, aiming to provide equitable access across the community and contribute to the county's goal of achieving a carbon-neutral footprint by 2050.
According to Arlington County, the local EV scene is getting a thumbs up from County Board Chair Libby Garvey, an EV adopter herself, who praised the convenience and affordability of the stations, saying, "I am excited for our expansion of these charging stations across the county, which will help people transition away from fossil fuels." The county's fleet is already setting a green example with 64% electrification of non-public-safety sedans and non-school vehicles.
These changes are crucial for residents in multi-family housing and those with financial or space limitations for private EV charging. With private EV ownership in Arlington at around 2%, slightly above the regional average, the County has developed a pricing model for the chargers aimed at covering only the basic cost of electricity and some administrative fees, as decided by the County Board in a July 2022 ruling.
The County Board revised its EV charger fee policy last Saturday, as per the Arlington County website. The new rate is $0.1746 per kWh, with an added "dwell fee" for vehicles that stay more than 15 minutes after charging is complete. The fee is $3 per hour, capped at $25, likely intended to encourage EV drivers to be mindful of parking spots.
