San Diego is amending its commitment to a greener future by completing the first round of new electric vehicle (EV) charger installations across the city. Managed by EVerged, the new network is part of a 10-year agreement to boost EV usage, which aligns with the city's climate goals. According to a report by the City of San Diego, a dozen city-owned parking lots, including those by the San Diego Zoo and Central Library, now feature upgraded charging stations.
To celebrate Clean Air Month, Anna Lowe, the city's Zero Emissions Vehicles Program Manager, announced that charging at these locations will temporarily be free through May's end. "This truly is a win for the City," Lowe told the City of San Diego. EVerged is responsible for fully financing, permitting, constructing, operating, and maintaining the EV chargers for the contract's duration, at no cost to the City.
The initiative doesn't stop here, as more chargers will be quickly installed at city libraries and recreation centers during the subsequent phase. The ambitious five-year plan will see chargers laid out at approximately 400 city-owned parking facilities, accessible to residents and visitors alike. The goal is to bolster support for EV adoption by alleviating anxieties over charging accessibility, especially for those without home or workplace infrastructure.
"Having chargers throughout the city, available to everyone in every community, will help support the interest and desire to not only purchase these vehicles, but also ensure that folks are able to confidently get anywhere in the City in an EV," Lowe explained. The completed installations include sites such as Ocean Beach, Otay Mesa-Nestor Branch Library, and several others, all offering free charging, as detailed by the City of San Diego.
