Seattle is expanding access to electric vehicle charging with plans to install up to 200 new Level 2 curbside EV chargers by 2030. The initiative aims to make charging more convenient for EV owners living in apartments and condominiums without private parking. The project builds on a successful pilot that introduced 58 chargers at 31 locations across the city in 2023 and 2024.
How will the locations be chosen?
Seattle City Light and the Seattle Department of Transportation will prioritize neighborhoods with multifamily housing and limited access to existing charging stations. Residents can also submit site applications through the Seattle City Light portal. The city will consider walkability, proximity to businesses and parks, and communities affected by pollution and historical underinvestment when selecting locations for the new Seattle curbside EV chargers.
More than half of Seattle’s homes are apartments or condominiums, many without dedicated off-street parking. For residents who cannot charge at home, DC fast chargers can be a more expensive alternative, not to mention inconvenient. City-provided public EV chargers along residential streets gives drivers convenient access near their homes, allowing vehicles to charge for several hours while parked nearby.
What is the timeline?
Residents can submit applications for potential charging locations through fall 2027. Site design and permitting are scheduled to begin this coming spring (while location applications are still open), with installations starting in fall 2027. Officials plan to select locations in batches of approximately 40 to 50 sites. Construction at each location is expected to take around two weeks, and the full network should be operational by 2030.
How will it be funded?
The project will receive most of its funding from the $1.55 billion Seattle Transportation Levy approved by voters in 2024. Approximately $21 million of the levy’s $32 million electrification budget will support the 200 curbside chargers, with another $2 million coming from Seattle City Light. The broader investment is geared towards increasing the city’s sustainable transportation options and reducing its air pollution. Curbside EV chargers will also be added to parks, community centers, and libraries.
Currently, Seattle’s curbside EV chargers cost $0.21 per kilowatt-hour to use and offer peak power output of 9.6 kilowatts. Expanding this network will give more residents practical access to electric vehicle charging without requiring private parking.
See a map of public EV chargers in Seattle
If you have an electric vehicle, you can check out a map showing all of the current Seattle City Light public EV charger locations in Seattle, as well as proposed locations.
