Ray Of Sunshine: City Approves Funding For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

LOS ANGELES, CA — More public electric vehicle charging stations may be coming to Los Angeles, after a City Council committee signed off Monday on financing for the program.

The plan approved by the Budget and Finance Committee would provide more than $1.1 million in funding to add dozens of EV charging stations around the city in addition to the 560 already in place at city facilities and street locations.

City Hall and City Hall East would also see added EV charging stations, which would be available to the public and city employees, as well as for charging of EV vehicles in the city's fleet.

The new EV stations on public streets would be located near street lights, as the needed power source and infrastructure are already in place. The city currently has 30 EV stations near street lights, and the plan approved by the committee would add 50 more.

At City Hall and City Hall East, 84 new charging stations would be added to the 23 already in place. The stations are open to visitors, but also to employees, and the spaces are in high demand.

"I have to say, my staff was so excited about this item," City Councilman Paul Krekorian said. "It was about the most exited I have seen them about anything because of the state of electric vehicle charging in City Hall right now, and I think they saw a ray of sunshine and hope coming from this item."

City News Service; Photo by the rabbit via flickr.com