SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee has directed the city to offer free electric vehicle (EV) charging at all city-owned charging stations located on publicly accessible city properties through 2013. 

The charging stations will be located at 19 city-owned garages, at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and at other locations currently under review, including a number of neighborhood branch libraries. The first of these charging stations will be installed next month. 

“The city’s goal is to make it affordable and convenient for all San Francisco residents and visitors to charge their electric vehicles when they are away from their home charging stations,” said Lee. “By providing free public charging powered by clean, carbon-neutral SFPUC power, San Francisco will help EV users avoid range anxiety and build confidence in the new technology.”

The city plans to install more than 80 charging stations citywide by the end of the year. Many of the stations will offer both Level 1 (120 volt) and Level 2 (240 volt) charging in order to serve the widest range of vehicles, powered by Hetch Hetchy’s carbon-free electricity. Multiple city agencies are involved in the project, including the Department of the Environment, SF Public Utilities Commission, Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), SFO, Department of Public Works (DPW) and Port of San Francisco. 

In addition to helping promote new clean vehicles, the city’s commitment to EV infrastructure will help San Francisco meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals. San Francisco has already met the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing greenhouse gases to 7 percent below 1990 levels. But with its aggressive goal of reducing greenhouse gases 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, the city will clearly need to explore carbon reduction opportunities on every front.