The U.S. Is a Curbside Charging Laggard. San Francisco Wants to Change That.

San Francisco has submitted an application to deploy curbside electric vehicle chargers, a move aimed at closing a significant gap in the city's public charging network as adoption of EVs grows.

What Happened

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has filed an application to install EV chargers at curbside parking locations throughout the city. The initiative targets neighborhoods where residents lack access to private garages or driveways, making home charging impossible. The application outlines a plan to place Level 2 charging stations at metered parking spots and other curbside locations, allowing EV owners to charge while parked on public streets.

Why It Matters

For urban EV owners who rely on street parking, the lack of curbside charging infrastructure has been a persistent barrier to ownership. Unlike suburban homeowners with driveways, city dwellers often cannot install home chargers. San Francisco's application represents a potential model for other dense metropolitan areas grappling with how to make EVs accessible to all residents, not just those with off-street parking.

The Bottom Line

San Francisco's curbside charging application highlights a gap in U.S. EV infrastructure that has been more developed in some European and Asian cities. If approved, the pilot program could set a precedent for other U.S. cities seeking to expand public charging access beyond traditional parking garages and dedicated charging stations.