In its continuing efforts to combat climate change and create a regional network encouraging consumers to switch to electric vehicles, the City has approved a plan to install 400-plus EV chargers in City parking lots including libraries, beaches, parks and recreation centers.
True Upside Consulting has also been selected by the City to contract with it to build a regional EV charging station network. The City Council is expected to consider that contract, which requires no upfront City investment while requiring the contractor to pay for the use of City property, in May.
To take a deeper dive into this latest development with electric vehicles, San Diego Community Newspaper Group held a Q&A with the City’s Sustainability and Mobility Department, to get more details on how this new EV charging network would be created and funded.
SDCNG: What prompted this recent move to install 400-plus EV chargers around the City?
CITY: The City’s 2022 Climate Action Plan (CAP) sets a target of net zero emissions by 2035. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and as the City works to reduce vehicle polluting emissions and support the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, there is a critical need for a publicly accessible, reliable, and equitable EV charging network.
Also, publicly accessible EV charging stations throughout the City, available to residents and visitors, will support the increase in EV ownership, especially for those residents living in apartments or rental units who may not have access to charging stations at home. Likewise for visitors, charging stations may be hard to find at hotels and tourist destinations. The City is planning on installing EV chargers at approximately 400 parking lots – some of these will have just a few chargers and some will have many based on the size of the lot and community need.
SDCNG: Why were libraries, beaches, and park and rec centers specifically chosen?
CITY: The City is the most geographically diverse property owner across San Diego, with facilities, community parks, and office locations for over 11,000 employees serving all neighborhoods, with over 400 parking lots used by the public and city workers. There is a recreation center or library in every community, and beaches are used by residents and visitors, ensuring that charging stations are equitably distributed and accessible across the City.
SDCNG: What are the objectives of this effort?
CITY: Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in both the greater San Diego region and the state. This program helps the City meet its CAP goal of increased zero-emissions transportation by ensuring charging infrastructure is equitable, accessible, and reliable so more drivers can confidently switch to an EV. Increased EV adoption has the additional benefit of improving air quality in local communities, and electric vehicles have lower maintenance costs than their gasoline-powered equivalent.
SDCNG: How will those objectives be accomplished?
CITY: Based on the knowledge gained through market research, industry meetings, internal stakeholder discussions, and a formal Request for Information, the Sustainability and Mobility Department staff determined the best method for deploying a public EV charging network is through a portfolio approach with a single contractor for financing, building, owning and operating public EV charging stations on all City-owned parking lots. Through this structure, instead of the City paying to provide charging services, the contractor pays the City for the ability to use City property to provide their services to the public. This approach advances CAP goals, ensures equitable access to EV charging in every community, and leverages City assets to facilitate a reliable citywide network.
SDCNG: What is the process for finding/hiring an outside vendor to complete these EV installations?
CITY: The Sustainability and Mobility Department conducted extensive market and industry research starting in 2021, followed by a formal Request for Information in June 2022. Utilizing the RFI responses, market research, and internal department stakeholder meetings, the City released a Request for Proposals in March 2023, for a 10-year exclusive concession contract for a citywide EV charging proposal to install, operate, maintain, and own chargers across all City parking lots for public use. The RFP was structured so that the selected bidder can adapt and evolve to both a rapidly changing market and different community and City needs. However, it also includes several requirements and controls to ensure citywide goals are met, including:
- Prioritizing an equity-focused approach for public-facing sites by requiring the installation of chargers at all libraries, recreation centers, and beaches within the first two years of the contract to ensure lower-income areas with less EV adoption do not lose access in favor of high-revenue locations as is commonly seen in the market today.
- Requiring all chargers enroll on a 100% renewable energy commodity option.
- Requiring Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program Certification for installation of chargers.
- Uptime, maintenance, and repair performance measures, with financial damages assessed if targets are missed.
- Reports on charger utilization, revenue, downtime, repairs and other charging network data to ensure both program success and transparency on CAP targets.
SDCNG: Why the two-year time frame for completion of this EV charging project?
CITY: The contract requires all priority sites – recreation centers, libraries, and beaches – to be through permitting within two years of contract execution. Based on market research, past City projects, and RFI responses, staff determined the feasibility of conducting community engagement and completing site design, engineering, and permitting (including coastal permits where applicable) at over 100 parking lots could be up to two years. City staff will work closely with True Upside Consulting and their construction partner, Baker Electric, to shorten this timeline where possible without sacrificing opportunities to gather community needs and feedback.
SDCNG: Tell us how this EV charging effort figures into the City’s Climate Action Plan.
CITY: This program is in alignment with the Climate Action Plan goals of reducing mobile source emissions by facilitating the transition from internal combustion engines to zero-emissions electric vehicles. The 2022 Climate Action Plan Strategy 2 reflects the need to increase the adoption of EVs citywide. As the City moves toward this goal, there is a critical need for publicly accessible, reliable, and affordable EV charging stations. CAP Measure 2.3 identifies several actions and supporting actions oriented to the expansion of EV charging – including installation on City property.
SDCNG: How much will these EV charging stations cost?
CITY: As per the True Upside Consulting proposal, charger installation costs can range from $3,500 to over $100,000 depending on the site disposition, type of charger, and whether available electrical infrastructure and grid capacity require upgrades. TUC covers the full cost of system installation operations and maintenance for the term of the contract.
SDCNG: Who will set those EV charging rates?
CITY: The True Upside Consulting proposal includes a range of $0.50 – $0.56 per kilowatt hour(kWh), which is within the median charging rate in the region and significantly less than the equivalent cost per mile of a gasoline vehicle. As outlined in the Request for Proposals, TUC may adjust charging rates in consultation with, and subject to, approval of the City.
SDCNG: Once the EV charging stations are in place, will there be a map of some kind to guide people to those locations?
CITY: Yes, the EV chargers installed through this program will show up on charging station maps including but not limited to those using data from the United States Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, PlugShare, etc. The locations will also be listed on the City’s website.
