Waymo Robotaxis Crowding Public Fast Chargers in San Diego
EV drivers report waiting up to an hour for stalls as the Alphabet-owned fleet expands to 15 U.S. cities.
Electric vehicle drivers in San Diego, California, are reporting increased frustration after Waymo robotaxis began occupying public fast-charging stalls, forcing human drivers to wait or seek alternative locations.
What Happened
According to the Los Angeles Times, some Waymo vehicles are utilizing public fast-charging stations in San Diego, leading to congestion. Drivers have reported wait times of up to an hour for a spot to open up. A driver quoted by the outlet described the vehicles arriving "in droves." Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary, currently serves riders in 15 cities across the United States. While the company operates dedicated depots for maintenance and charging, its Jaguar I-Paces and Zeekr vans—sometimes driven by humans during breaks—are also using public infrastructure. EVgo confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that its San Diego chargers are available to both private EV drivers and robotaxis, meaning Waymo is not violating any usage rules.
Why It Matters
This friction highlights the logistical challenges arising as autonomous vehicle fleets scale rapidly alongside the broader adoption of electric vehicles. Waymo stated that it prioritizes charging at its own hubs but acknowledged that establishing dedicated facilities takes time in new markets. The situation is not isolated to San Diego; social media reports indicate similar complaints from EV drivers in Nashville and St. Louis regarding charger availability. Additionally, residents in Santa Monica and San Francisco have previously raised concerns about noise from Waymo vehicles at depots, including beeping parking sensors and honking, suggesting that infrastructure strain extends beyond charging stalls to operational impacts on local communities.
The Bottom Line
As Waymo continues to expand its fleet, competition for limited public fast-charging real estate is intensifying. While building more public chargers is a nationwide priority, the current infrastructure is struggling to accommodate both private EV owners and commercial autonomous fleets without causing significant delays for individual drivers.
