Washington D.C.’s transportation department has launched a pilot to install curbside electric vehicle charging stations across the city.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT), in collaboration with the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and EV charging provider It’s Electric, aims to expand charging access in residential neighborhoods, according to a DDOT press release.
A federal grant awarded to It’s Electric is funding The Neighborhood Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Station Pilot, which will help shape a future permit program allowing private companies to install, operate and maintain curbside chargers within the district’s right of way. The pilot will also inform regulatory updates and help establish long-term program guidelines.
ABC 7 News reported the pilot will run throughout the year, with data collected to support development of a permanent curbside charging program.
As part of the initiative, 16 Level-2 chargers will be installed at eight locations citywide, with each site serving two adjacent curbside parking spaces. DDOT said one location is planned within each of the city’s eight wards.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Level-2 chargers are suitable for residential and commercial use and provide relatively fast charging — restoring battery electric vehicles from empty to 80% in approximately four to 10 hours and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in one to two hours.
One charging location in Ward 1 is already open to the public, with the remaining installations expected in the coming months.
DDOT noted that the chargers require users to supply their own charging cable, which can be requested at no cost through It’s Electric’s app and delivered by mail within three business days.
Sources: DDOT, ABC 7 News
