Four electric vehicle charging stations will be installed Wednesday in the Manhattan Beach City Hall parking garage as part of the California Energy Commission’s initiative to upgrade outdated EV charging infrastructure across the state.
This is the outcome of City Council’s decision last December to apply for the CEC’s “Reconnect CA” grant, which seeks to upgrade more than half of all outdated charging stations in California.
City staff determined that the City Hall parking garage was the optimal location for the new stations because of its existing infrastructure used for charging electric Mini Coopers in 2010.
In 2011, the CEC awarded ClipperCreek, Inc. $2.3 million to update more than 600 EV charging stations throughout the state—at no cost to the recipient. The funds come from the CEC’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.
“The more charging stations we have, the more likely Californians will consider buying electric-powered vehicles,” Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd said in a press release.
ClipperCreek’s installer, 3D Datacom, will conduct a site survey Wednesday before installing the new stations.
The new stations in the City Hall parking garage will be available for public use by Earth Day, April 22. Initially, the stations will be free for use, but “that may change in the future if the council decides,” said Clay Curtin, the city’s senior management analyst.
