Public Electric Vehicle Charging

Level 2 Curbside Chargers

Curbside charging stations provide the public with access to Level 2 EV charging next in residential neighborhoods in Seattle. Anyone who drives an EV is able to park on the street next to the charger while charging their vehicle. The chargers are open to the public, available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. These chargers provide up to 9.6 kilowatts (kW), which can provide a typical EV with up to 30 miles of range per hour of charge time.

Direct Current Fast Chargers

Direct Current (DC) fast chargers are the fastest charging option. DC fast chargers are rated by the kilowatt (kW) output. A 60-minute charge at a 50kW charger will deliver 50 kilowatt hours (kWh) which is equivalent to 150 miles. The costs to charge vary depending on location and time of use.

The cost to charge at a City Light EV charger depends on the charger type (Level 2 or DC fast) and time of day.

A typical charging session at a fast charger may take 30-minutes to deliver 20 kWh, and cost $4 - $7 depending upon location and time of use. 20 kWh can power approximately 60 miles of driving. The cost to charge is updated per department policy III-1102.

Fees are per kilowatt-hours (kWh).

DC Fast Chargers

Sunday

All Day - $0.22

Monday - Saturday

12 a.m. - 7 a.m. - $0.22
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. - $0.36
7 p.m. - 12 a.m - $0.22

Level 2 Chargers

Daily

All Day - $0.21

Users will pay by the kilowatt-hour (kWh) to use City Light’s chargers. Payment processing is managed by the network provider Shell Recharge (this will change in 2025) at Seattle locations and ChargePoint at our Burien and Shoreline locations. Users can activate and pay for a session by using either the network provider’s phone app, RFID card, or by calling the provider to pay by credit card.

Each charger will be equipped with a Combined Charging System (CCS) Combo connector, which are compatible with many fast-charge capable EVs. All fast charging sites will have at least one charger with a CHAdeMO connector. Some stations will also have a NACS connector. This allows as many different EVs as possible to charge.

Only EVs will be allowed to use the charging spaces, while actively charging. Electric vehicle charging will be time limited. Signs will be used to indicate maximum parking time limits.

Parking restrictions will be posted on signs at the charging station. Enforcement will be managed by the City of Seattle or local city jurisdictions within King County. Vehicles in violation of the parking restrictions may be fined or towed away at the owner’s expense. Chargers will include contact information for customer questions and payment by phone.

City Light has a responsibility to our customers to invest in and implement solutions that support sustainability, including transportation electrification. Chargers are being distributed equitably across our service area so that EV fast charging is accessible to all customers, especially in areas where the private sector is not installing EV infrastructure.

This program leverages City Light’s clean electricity and will play a critical role in helping the City of Seattle reach its carbon neutral goal by 2050. This program is part of Seattle’s Clean Transportation Electrification Blueprint, which focuses on delivering community-focused transportation solutions.