City-Owned Electric Vehicle Charging Station Usage Rates Now Based on Energy Consumption


6/25/2018 • 6 years ago

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The City of Cambridge announced today that the rate structure for use of City-owned Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations will change to more accurately and transparently reflect electricity consumption.

Effective July 1, 2018, EV drivers charging at City-owned stations will pay $0.189 per kilowatt hour (kWh) used, plus $0.15 per hour while the vehicle is plugged into the charging station. The previous rate was a flat fee of $1.25 per hour, which did not account for the different rate of electricity consumed by different EV models. The new rate structure will save EV owners, on average, 23% in charging costs compared to the previous rate structure.

The rate change reflects a ruling by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities that allows charging stations to legally participate in the resale of electricity, enabling the City to implement a more equitable and transparent rate structure. The additional flat rate of $0.15 per hour will help offset a portion of the yearly maintenance and wireless networking costs for each station, with rates adjusted periodically to reflect the City’s price of electricity. Existing parking meter rates and regulations at charging stations will still apply.

“We are excited to announce that charging Electric Vehicles at the City’s charging stations will become more cost-effective for drivers on average,” said Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development. “Each mile driven on electricity from City-owned EV charging stations will cost less than half that of a mile driven by a gasoline-fueled engine.”

In addition to lower fueling and maintenance costs, EVs are becoming more affordable to purchase or lease. Manufacturers are offering a wider variety of EV models at prices that are comparable to similarly sized fossil fuel vehicles. Federal and state tax incentives are also available and further lower the cost of EV ownership.

EVs also offer environmental benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions and better local air quality. Greenhouse gas emissions from EVs powered by electricity from the New England electric grid are approximately four times lower than fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

“Electric Vehicles are an important factor in reaching our citywide goal of carbon neutrality by mid-century in Cambridge,” said Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning. “We hope that this charging station rate change will encourage more drivers to explore the benefits of owning EVs as the City continues to seek ways to support residents who are interested in switching from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.”

There are currently four City-owned EV charging stations in Cambridge, with plans to install additional stations in municipal parking lots by the end of 2019. In the coming fiscal year, the City will also be working with a consultant to develop a robust long-term EV Strategy to support adoption of EVs in Cambridge.

To learn more about EV ownership and incentives, visit https://mor-ev.org/ or the Mass Energy Consumer’s Alliance Drive Green program.

For More Information

Contact Bronwyn Cooke, Sustainability Planner, at bcooke@cambridgema.gov or 617/349-4604