Electric Vehicles

Future Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Locations in Cambridge

The City of Cambridge is currently working to expand our network of EV chargers. We have identified several potential sites for installation in 2024 and 2025. The City has a goal to increase access to electric vehicle chargers and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Installing electric vehicle chargers helps us achieve these goals.

Please use this link to view a map of the locations that we are currently considering for EV charger installation. In addition to those sites shown in the map, we are also considering other locations for future years. Please note that the locations in the above map are subject to change. To receive construction updates for planned installations, please sign up for our e-newsletter. To sign up, scroll down this webpage to where it says Get Plugged In and enter your email address. 

Across Sidewalk Electric Vehicle Charging Permit

The City of Cambridge has a pilot permit program to allow residents who do not have access to off-street parking to charge electric vehicles. Please read below for more information on how to apply for the annual permit, the cost, the requirements, and areas that are eligible for the application

How To Apply: Please use this link to access the online application

Cost: The cost of the annual permit is $200

Requirements for obtaining a permit:

• Must have a valid City of Cambridge Parking Permit
• Must have a letter from a certified electrician confirming that there is a ground-floor outdoor outlet that is protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter ("GFCI")
• Must have proof of homeowners or renters insurance
• Must provide an ADA accessible ramp over the cord to ensure the sidewalk remains accessible for people walking

Requirements for maintaining a permit: Please use this link to access the online application which includes the requirements for maintaining a permit 

Full policy: Please use this link to access the full policy

Cable protectors: Please use this link to see different suggested cable protectors

Areas that are eligible: If you live within 1/8 mile of an existing city-owned street side EV charging station, you are not eligible for the pilot application. Please use this link to see a map of eligible areas. Other locations that are not eligible include major pedestrian routes and streets with separated bike lanes.

Right-to-Charge Law

This law is specific to the City of Cambridge and was signed by the Governor in December 2022. The Right-to-Charge law is for owners of units in Condo and multi-family buildings. The law gives owners the right to install EV charging in their building at the owners expense. EV charging systems must be installed by a licensed and qualified electrician or contractor.

Some possible issues may arise in the interpretation of the law, including a desire to have EV charging installed in a particular deeded parking space, where there could be significant engineering constraints. The law indicates that using common parking spaces for transition to EV charging, as long as the space is available to all building residents, could alleviate this problem. Additionally, the law does not seem to solve the problem of the potential need to upgrade a buildings' electrical capacity to handle the new electrical load as a result of the installation of EV chargers.

Please use this link to download a PDF copy of the law text. 

Past Meetings

 

Public Meeting #3

Thanks to all who joined! The City held the 3rd public meeting with folks from the City's Community Development Department, Department of Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation on June 13th, 2024 to provide updates on the construction schedule, securing funding, and future locations. The virtual meeting included a presentation that began at 5:30pm on Zoom and left plenty of time for questions and answers at the end of the presentation. Please use this link to review the PDF slide deck. 

Public Meeting #2

The City held the 2nd public meeting with folks from the City's Community Development Department, Department of Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation to on May 24th, 2023 to discuss our approach to install additional electric vehicle chargers on City streets and in municipal parking lots. The virtual meeting included a presentation that began at 5:30pm on Zoom and left plenty of time for questions and answers at the end of the presentation. Please use this link to watch a recording of the virtual presentation. If a passcode is required, please use: zCdq!&3r

Please use this link to review the PDF slide deck. 

Public Meeting #1

The City of Cambridge hosted a public forum to discuss the EV charging station Pilot Program on January 12, 2022. Here is a link to the PDF presentation. 

Presentation to City Council

The City of Cambridge Community Development Department and Department of Public Works presented an update to members of City Council at the Health and Environment Committee Hearing in November, 2021. An accessible version of the presentation is available at the following link:

• Click here to access the PDF slide deck that was presented to the Health and Environment Committee

Incentive Programs 

State of Massachusetts Incentive Programs

The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles Program (MOR-EV) provides rebates for buying or leasing Electric Vehicles (EVs). The rebate program includes:

• Eligible battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) rebates up to $3,500
• Vehicle sales price must be $55,000 or less
• Eligible plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can receive rebates of $1,500 (this will likely phase out in Spring 2023)
• Point-of-sale: Rebate applications can take place at dealerships at the time of sale or lease
• Qualifying low-income individuals can receive additional $1,500
• Qualifying used electric vehicles are able to apply for rebate
• Caps on the number of fleet electric vehicles acquired (that weigh less than 8,000 pounds) have been eliminated

Here is a link to the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles program.  If you have additional questions, see the FAQ about the MOR-EV program at this link.

Federal Incentive Programs - January 2024 Electric Vehicle Rebate Updates

Instant Rebate

EV buyers can claim the $7,500 federal tax credit rebate as cash savings at the point of sale. Buyers no longer have to wait and file the credit during the following tax season. Under the new rule changes, the car dealer submits the paperwork to the IRS and the IRS then pays back the dealer.

Income Cap

The income cap rules have not changed.

Tax Liability

Buyers no longer have to owe at least $7,500 in taxes to receive the rebate. With the new rule changes, families, and individuals with no tax liability can get the full tax credit rebate at the point of sale.

Made in America

To be eligible for the tax credit vehicles must:

• Be assembled in North America
• Have a sticker (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) of less than $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs and trucks
• Meet battery materials and sourcing requirements. Please use this link to visit www.fueleconomy.gov to search for eligible vehicles. The vehicles on this list will likely change as battery sourcing requirements get more strict over time.

Timing

Please visit www.fueleconomy.gov to review rules about sourcing different materials. Check in with your dealership to make sure that the vehicle delivery schedule aligns with current requirements.

Leasing

It is far easier to qualify for a tax rebate when leasing an electric vehicle. It has no North America assembly requirements, no price cap, and no income restrictions. Dealerships collect the rebate. Then, the savings are often applied in the form of savings at the beginning of the lease. Please note that leases have limits on mileage and are basically long-term rentals. When the terms of the lease are up, you must return the vehicle to the dealer.

Buying Used

Buying a used EV does qualify for the tax credit rebate. The amount is smaller though, it is worth 40% of the sale price, with a cap of $4,000. It must be the first time that the vehicle has been sold as a used vehicle since mid-2022. And, you have to buy it from a dealership.

Remember to read your contract carefully to ensure that you receive the tax credit. Also, be sure that the vehicle meets the requirements at the federal www.fueleconomy.gov website. 

To accommodate EV drivers who do not have access to a driveway for charging at home, Cambridge offers public charging stations throughout the city.

All City-owned charging stations offer a Level 2 charge and charge a rate of $0.189 per kWh drawn and $0.15 per hour.

All other parking fees and rules still apply.

To see other charging stations in the ChargePoint network located throughout the region, click here.

The Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center also has a map of charging stations made by other manufacturers. 

City-Owned Chargers:

• Water Treatment Plant (250 Fresh Pond Parkway)
  This station can charge 6 vehicles with a level 2 charge. NOTE this parking area includes 10 EV charging stations dedicated for municipal fleet vehicles.
  
  
• Moore Youth Center (12 Gilmore Street)
  This station can charge 1 vehicle with a level 2 charge. NOTE this parking area includes one EV charging station dedicated for municipal fleet vehicles.

• Inman Street at Broadway (City Hall Annex at 344 Broadway)
  This station came online in mid-April 2023. This station can charge 3 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time. NOTE this parking area includes two dedicated EV charging spaces for municipal fleet vehicles.
  
  
• Upland Road at Raymond Street (by Raymond Park)
  This station came online in mid-February 2023. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

• Pemberton Street at Yerxa Road (by Rindge Field)
  This station came online mid-February, 2023. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

• Tudor Street Dog Park
  This station came online in late October, 2022. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

• Norfolk Street at Sennott Park
  This station came online in late October, 2022. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

• Department of Public Works, 147 Hampshire Street
  There are 5 charging stations, with 8 total charging ports, at the Department of Public Works (DPW), 147 Hampshire St. These charging stations are available for public use Monday 8 p.m. – Tuesday 6 a.m., Tuesday – Friday 5 p.m. – 6 a.m. and all-day on Saturday and Sunday. The stations are located in the parking lot to the left of the Frazier Building, which is accessible via Hampshire St.
  
  
• First St. Garage, 2nd level, entrance on Spring Street
  This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• City Lot #5 on Bishop Allen Drive, between Norfolk and Douglass Street
  This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at a time.
  
  
• City Hall, Inman Street side lot
  This station is open to the public off-hours only. It can charge 1 vehicle with a level 2 charge at a time.
  
  
• 7 Warren St / Macarelli Way
  This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• 375 Green Street
  This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• 420 Green Street
  This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• 177 Garden Street (St. Peters Field / Montessori School)
  This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• 99 Sherman Street
  This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• 341 Rindge Avenue (Comeau Field)
  This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
  
  
• 73 Sherman Street (St. Peters Field / Salt Shed)
  This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.