Boston, itselectric Launch First Public Curbside EV Charger in Roslindale
The City of Boston and itselectric, an electric vehicle (EV) curbside charging company, has brought a first-of-its-kind public curbside EV charger to Roslindale.
Boston pursued a public-private partnership with itselectric to deliver a low-footprint, Level 2 Charger to the city. According to a news release issued by itselectric, the charger design is tailored for use in cities thanks to detachable cables and a behind-the-meter connection. Designers of the itselectric charger said the detachable design of the cables prevent them from obstructing the public right of way, sidewalks, when a car is not being charged. The behind-the-meter connection enables property owners to earn revenue based on a percentage of the fees drivers pay to charge their vehicles.
“I am proud to see Boston take this important step toward a sustainable and equitable future. Expanding access to electric vehicle charging, especially for those without private driveways, is key to reducing our carbon footprint and advancing our climate goals,” said Boston City Council Enrique J. Pepén in the release. “This public-private partnership with itselectric demonstrates the forward-thinking, community-centered approach that will help us achieve a carbon-neutral Boston by 2050 and provide more ecological opportunities to residents. Roslindale is just the start, and I look forward to seeing more neighborhoods like Mattapan and Hyde Park welcome public residential charging stations.”
“For too long, EV ownership has been limited to people who have a private driveway or garage. This is a crucial equity issue for the 70 million drivers across the United States who park on the street and who need access to convenient and affordable public charging to make the switch to EVs,” said itselectric Director of Public Affairs Shannon Dulaney in the release. “Forward-thinking cities like Boston are leading the way to deploy curbside charging for their residents, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them on this exciting initiative.”
Boston residents and commercial property owners can apply for a curbside charger at no cost. itselectric manages the installation and maintains the chargers. The city hopes to add chargers to more neighborhoods within the coming year.
