Public-private partnership brings first curbside EV chargers to San Francisco streets
San Francisco, California – San Francisco has shown its first public curbside electric vehicle (EV) chargers, an innovative step toward a greener future that underlines the city’s dedication to sustainable transportation. The new chargers, located at 55 Fillmore Street right outside the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) building, are part of a collaborative pilot program involving the San Francisco Environment Department (SFE), San Francisco Public Works, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and private partner it’s electric.
Installing these two Level 2 chargers is not just a technical improvement but also a major environmental sustainability promotion approach.
“Making it easier to drive electric vehicles is a critical step towards achieving our climate goals,” explained Mayor Daniel Lurie in a news release.
A new Emerging Technology Permit also helps the program by simplifying the permitting procedure, hence accelerating and facilitating the implementation of such sustainable energy solutions inside the community.
San Francisco’s progressive attitude on environmental concerns is seen in its latest figures: one-third of all vehicles sold in the last two years in the city were EVs. The city is on track to reach its target of having 1,760 publicly available EV chargers by 2030 given 1,152 publicly accessible charging ports now in place—an increase of 470% since 2019. This growth not only serves current EV owners but also motivates more people to think about sustainable car options.
Given California’s approaching 2035 EV mandate, Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman underlined the need of this change.
“That’s why I have been working with the San Francisco Environment Department and SFMTA to identify what it will take to scale up curbside charging. With the first chargers now being installed this week in Duboce Triangle, we’re taking an important step toward getting the infrastructure needed for an all-electric future,” Mandelman said.
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Apart from curbside charging, San Francisco adopted several important initiatives this year to increase EV access. These include Electrify America’s 20-charger plaza in the SOMA neighborhood and Revel’s first West Coast project—a 12-unit DC fast charger plaza in the Mission. These projects show a rising network of handy charging options accessible to the public.
The cooperation with its electric is an example of public-private cooperation accelerating climate innovation. Its electric specializes on installing small, user-friendly chargers using untapped electrical supply from property owners. This strategy not only enables faster installations but also lessens electrical grid load by eliminating direct utility connections.
“We applaud it’s electric’s nationwide commitment to using IBEW electricians to install their chargers, and we are proud to host their first curbside chargers outside our offices in San Francisco. IBEW Local 6 has been an active part of electrifying transportation for over 130 years in San Francisco. We continue those efforts as we train the next generation of electrical workers to install the charging infrastructure needed to power the transition to clean, emission-free, electric vehicles. This is a monumental task; IBEW Local 6 and our signatory contractors are up to the challenge,” said John J. Doherty, Business Manager – Financial Secretary of IBEW Local 6.
The city remains dedicated to increasing its green projects as San Francisco keeps inventing in environmental stewardship, so enabling everyone access to sustainable transportation options including EVs. This curb-side charging pilot program is only the start of what looks to be an extensive and inclusive strategy for urban environmental sustainability.
