Washington, DC, just launched a curbside charging pilot to install public EV chargers on residential streets across all eight wards. The goal is to make charging easier for people who don’t have a driveway or garage and figure out how to scale curbside charging citywide.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) pilot, funded through a federal grant awarded to Brooklyn‑based charging company it’s electric, will also help the city write future rules for private companies that want permits to install and run chargers in the public right‑of‑way.
DDOT director Sharon Kershbaum said the program is part of the District’s plan to become carbon‑neutral and climate‑resilient by 2045, adding that the agency wants to make it easier for residents to choose cleaner transportation.
Across all 8 wards
The rollout includes 16 Level 2 chargers across eight locations – one site in each ward – with each charger serving two adjacent parking spaces. The first site is already live in Ward 1 near The Festival Center at 1640 Columbia Road NW on Mozart Place NW. The remaining seven locations are scheduled to come online over the next few months.
City officials said Advisory Neighborhood Commissions helped select locations, and each site was reviewed for safety, accessibility, and compatibility with existing street uses.
Pepco region president Amber Perry said the utility partnered on the project to expand convenient neighborhood charging and encourage more residents to consider EVs. She added, “We’re looking forward to seeing how this pilot serves the community and to working together on even more convenient locations in the future.”
BYO cable
These chargers work a little differently from most public stations: they’re single‑port Level 2 units that require drivers to bring their own cable. District residents can request a free NACS or J1772 cable through the it’s electric app, which the company says will arrive by mail within one to three business days.
If the pilot performs well, it could shape DC’s long‑term permitting system for curbside chargers and potentially become a model other cities copy as they try to solve one of urban EV adoption’s biggest challenges: where to plug in if you park on the street.
Read more: California just greenlit the future of curbside V2G EV chargers
If you’ve ever considered going solar, make it easy by finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing by checking out EnergySage. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments