Curbside EV Charging in Palo Alto
Sign Petition"Half of Palo Alto residents can't charge an EV at home: renters, families, and neighbors without driveways are being left behind."
Other cities are already solving this with curbside chargers: compact, safe, and neighborhood-friendly, making EVs practical for everyone.
By adopting curbside charging, Palo Alto can cut emissions, meet climate goals, and make clean transportation accessible to all, not just homeowners with garages.
Sign the petition today to tell City Council: We want curbside EV charging in Palo Alto!
EV Curbside Models
Shared Private Model
- •Homeowner or landlord installs and operates charging equipment.
- •Connects to the property's existing utility meter.
- •Requires city permitting, easement, and liability insurance.
- •The City of Palo Alto may subsidize installation, with the condition that chargers offer some free community use.
- •May offer tax incentives for property owners / landlords.
- •Pros: Low city cost; encourages private investment.
- •Cons: Complex permits/liability; uneven access.
Provider Model (3rd Party Operated)
- •Companies such as itselectric.us install and manage chargers.
- •Equipment connects to the homeowner's or landlord's meter with consent.
- •Residents and community members share chargers.
- •Revenue-sharing model: property owners may receive a portion of usage fees.
- •Pros: Professionally installed/maintained; revenue-sharing incentive.
- •Cons: Dependent on landlord consent; may favor affluent areas.
Utility Owned Model (City-Operated)
- •EV chargers integrated directly into existing streetlight poles.
- •Power comes from the city's electrical grid.
- •Owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto.
- •Provides equitable, public charging across neighborhoods.
- •Pros: Equitable, public access with city oversight.
- •Cons: High upfront city cost; slower rollout.