Through two requests for proposals, the City will evaluate the market for businesses to partner to bolster the number of public, kerbside charging stations
The City of Boston has announced two opportunities to help increase the availability of publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
Through the release of two requests for proposals (RFP), the City is seeking to evaluate the market for businesses to partner with Boston to bolster the number of public, kerbside charging stations equitably distributed citywide for individuals without driveways.
Public access chargers
While the City continues to build EV charging stations in municipal parking lots, it reports the demand for public access chargers is much greater than what can be provided from off-street publicly owned parking lot locations alone.
Through the RFPs, the City will examine how the private market can supplement the City’s stock with creating accessible public charging as well as contracting with partners to install and service city-owned chargers.
“With rapidly advancing technology and subsidies from federal and state sources, electric vehicles can be affordable for families looking for a cleaner, greener alternative, but we must develop the public charging infrastructure to ensure accessibility across all our communities,” said Michelle Wu, mayor of Boston.
“As we work to improve multimodal transportation access across walking, biking, and public transit, we also strive to make the transition to electric vehicles possible and create jobs building the infrastructure necessary for our city.”
The City is seeking proposals that increase kerbside chargers equitably in the public right-of-way – along city sidewalks – at no cost to the City. If awarded, the City will provide the kerb space for free to the contractor.
To complement the public-private model, the City also seeks to expand City-owned EV chargers beyond municipal lots. The City is looking to contract with a partner to install and service City-owned charging stations on kerb sides in the right-of-way.
To supplement these electric vehicle charging efforts, the City is taking a number of other steps to increase access and availability to charging stations.
The City’s investment in EV charging equipment has increased with the fiscal year 2024 budget for the Streets Cabinet including an additional $700,000 in funds for EVs, bringing the total amount to $1.35m.
Make Ready programme
The City is also currently working with Eversource through the Make Ready programme to install 16 LV II charging ports and eight DCFC ports in municipal parking lots. The goal is to have these installed in six- to 12 months.
“As we continue to make changes to our streets to better serve all modes of transportation, we also want to make it more viable to choose to drive electric by supporting the expansion of charging infrastructure at the kerb and in our municipal lots,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, chief of streets.
“These investments will create a more accessible and equitable charging network which will expand the options our residents have in how they choose to travel.”
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Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 10.07.2023
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