Sacramento, you’ll have to start paying to charge your EV in city parking lots soon

The Sacramento City Council approved its budget for 2024-2025 – and starting July 1, electric vehicle stations in city parking lots will charge drivers, and the free ride comes to an end.

Previously, electric vehicle owners could charge their cars without paying for the service. While the city ​​worked to close a $66 million budget deficitfree power was put at risk.

The cost at ChargePoint stations will be assessed separately from parking fees. Implementation of new rates may take longer in some locations. Drivers will pay through ChargePoint app.

The city chose public parking as an area to raise more revenue to help address the deficit. Sacramento will convert 300 spaces on the city’s central streets into metered spaces, as well as activation of parking meters in the city center and city center on Sundays and holidays.

The Department of Public Works has listed nearly 90 ChargePoint stations in municipal parking lots: Capitol Garage at 10th and L Streets, City Hall Garage, Tower Bridge Garage at Front Street and Capitol Mall, Old Sacramento Garage at Second and I Streets, Memorial Garage Memorial Garage at 14th and H Streets. Amtrak’s Sacramento Valley Station also has charging stations owned and operated by SMUD. These spaces at the train station already charge fees.

Rates in urban spaces will be US$0.20 per kWh during off-peak hours; $0.25 per kWh during peak hours and $0.30 per kWh during peak hours. The user interface on the charger will reflect the current energy price.

EVs are only permitted in spaces while they are actively charging. If the car is left plugged in longer than it takes to charge it, or if it exceeds any designated time limit, the ChargePoint app will assess overstay rates. Vehicles in a disconnected space – such as cars that are simply parked in an electric vehicle space – can be fined.

ChargePoint announced the first of its free charging stations in California’s capital in 2010.

Then-Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said in a press release at the time: “My vision is to make Sacramento the Emerald Valley – the greenest region in the country and the center of green technology. A networked infrastructure that supports electric vehicles is essential to this vision.”