Los Angeles Takes Charge with Innovative Streetlight EV Charging Stations
Los Angeles is making electric vehicle (EV) ownership a more realistic option for its residents, especially those who live in apartments. The city’s Bureau of Street Lighting has begun installing EV charging stations directly onto existing streetlight poles, eliminating the need for bulky standalone chargers and creating a convenient network for drivers.
This innovative solution addresses a major hurdle for EV adoption: lack of charging access for renters. With an estimated two-thirds of Los Angeles households falling into this category, according to LAist.com, many potential EV owners struggle to find charging options.
“When we prioritized encouraging EV purchases,” said Norma Isahakian, director of the Bureau of Street Lighting, “attaching chargers to our light poles seemed like the perfect solution.”
These slim chargers minimize sidewalk clutter and utilize existing electrical infrastructure thanks to the city’s prior conversion to energy-efficient LED streetlights. Charging typically costs $1 to $2 per hour, with free parking during charging.
The project, which began in 2016 and gained momentum with the launch of LA’s Green New Deal in 2019, aims to significantly increase the city’s EV usage. The ambitious plan targets 25% of vehicles to be electric by 2025, rising to 80% by 2035 and ultimately reaching 100% by 2050.
“The curbside charging stations are a key element in reducing range anxiety, a major concern for EV drivers,” said Angelica Frias, smart city strategist for Los Angeles, in a recent YouTube video. “By utilizing existing infrastructure, we can provide accessible charging without additional bulky equipment.”
The Bureau of Street Lighting plans to expand the program by adding 150 chargers annually, backed by grants and partnerships with charging network companies. This initiative serves as a model for other cities grappling with similar EV infrastructure challenges.
With convenient streetlight charging becoming a reality, Los Angeles is paving the way for a future dominated by clean, electric vehicles.
Instaling EV charging stations directly attached to streetlight pole is really good idea.
According to plugshare there are approx 2,263 Charging Stations in Los Angeles, check out the list below:
https://www.plugshare.com/directory/us/california/los-angeles
Agreed. I have a level 2 charger I installed at my home but I rarely try to charge anywhere else – it is often too inconvenient to find a charger that is either available or not broken. In my opinion, 226,300 chargers would not be enough to meet demand – imagine how amazing that would be. If only the electrical utility companies would understand that they not only have a huge source of recurring revenue just waiting, but they can bill the public to install the hardware!