Long Beach residents gathered at the Carmelitos Public Housing Development today to witness the unveiling of a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station, a collaboration between the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department (ISD) and various partners, including PowerFlex, the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), and Southern California Edison (SCE). As reported by the County of Los Angeles, the "Charge Up Carmelitos!" event celebrated the installation of 20 Level 2 EV chargers designed to meet the needs of the community and advance countywide sustainable mobility initiatives.
The installation includes ten chargers for the Carmelitos residents and the public, the other ten reserved for LACDA fleet operations. This project, which was showcased today from 10 a.m. to noon, is framed as a push for equitable access in the realm of clean transportation. According to an official statement, "This is equity in action, providing Carmelitos residents and the surrounding community with the same access to reliable, sustainable EV charging solutions available in other parts of the County."
The government bulletin released details of the event, including a charging demonstration by PowerFlex and a community resource fair featuring local organizations. Dignitaries such as Michael Owh, Director of the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department, and PowerFlex CEO Raphael Declercq attended and gave opening remarks, embracing the broader commitment of Los Angeles County to clean transportation.
The site chosen for this development, the Carmelitos Public Housing Development, is emblematic of the county's sustainable vision. Emilio Salas, Executive Director of the LACDA, highlighted the significance of this launch, stating that it reinforces "broader clean mobility initiatives that reduce environmental harm and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and supporting a cleaner, healthier future for all residents." Street parking was made available along the LACDA Community Center for the convenience of attendees.
These efforts add to the state's goals to transition to cleaner forms of transportation across all communities, with an eye on minimizing the impact on the environment. Additionally, the project serves as a model for further public-private collaborations aimed at increasing the availability of affordable and reliable EV charging infrastructure, particularly in areas that need them the most. Interested individuals can find more information about the County’s clean transportation initiatives and PowerFlex’s services on the respective websites provided by the County bulletin.
