Electrify Your Drive
In Palo Alto, 1 in 4 households drive an electric vehicle (EV) – the highest adoption rate in the country. There are more models to choose from than ever before with improved range and at various price points. With lower maintenance and fueling costs, EVs are cheaper to own than a fossil fuel vehicle. The transition is happening here and now. Take advantage of the various incentives available today making EVs and EV charging equipment more affordable. Furthermore, driving and charging an EV in Palo Alto especially makes sense given the City's carbon neutral electricity supply and low electric retail rates.
Additional Resources
Home EV Charger Installation - Free Online Estimate
Want to install an electric vehicle charger at home, but don't know where to start? Receive a free online estimate for your project and get connected with a local, vetted professional who will handle the permitting and inspections process for you by simply answering a few questions and uploading some photos. Get started by visiting Qmerit.
Support your Local Grid
Different chargers use different amounts of electricity. Consider using the right equipment in the right place, at the right time. Fast is not always necessary.
Voltage (V) is a measure of the pressure that allows electrons to flow. Amperage (A) is a measure of the volume of electrons. Every EV comes with a portable charging cord that lets the driver plug it into a standard 120V (“Level 1”) household outlet. Level 1 charging may be slow, but this option is easy, inexpensive, and the most grid friendly.
Level 2 chargers require 240V (just like electric clothes dryers). If you have limited electric panel capacity, consider installing a low-powered Level 2 charger that uses only 20A (amperes) of electricity, instead of a charger that uses 40A or more. Some vehicles also allow the driver to adjust charging amperage from 50A down to 15A. These low power Level 2 solutions provide a slower charge, but are more grid friendly.
Join the EV Revolution
Let us guide and support you when navigating the transition from a fossil fuel vehicle to an EV. Our EV webpages include information on choosing and comparing vehicles and installing charging equipment. Rebates for installing EV charging equipment are available for schools, non-profits and multi-family properties. If installing EV charging infrastructure requires these properties to upgrade electric service capacity, CPAU offers Transformer Upgrade Rebates, which are also available for single-family homes.
For general EV or EV charger questions, contact Utilities Program Services at (650) 329-2241.
For permit related questions, contact Development Services at (650) 329-3496.
For utility service upgrade questions, contact Utilities Electrical Engineering at (650) 566-4500.
No Charging at Home? Use City-Owned Charging Stations at Night.
100+ City-owned Chargers Available Overnight Without Overstay Fees
The City makes it easier for residents who don’t have access to charging at home by making over 100 chargers available for community members to charge their vehicle overnight, 5 p.m. - 8 a.m. The cost is only $0.23 per kWh and there are no overstay fees. Below is the most current list of EV chargers available on City-owned properties.
| Location Name |
Address |
Number of Level 2 Ports |
| Bryant Street Parking Garage |
445 Bryant Street |
14 |
| Cambridge Parking Garage |
475 Cambridge Avenue |
10 |
| City Hall Parking Garage |
250 Hamilton Avenue |
13 |
| High Street Parking Garage |
528 High Street |
8 |
| Mitchell Park Library |
3700 Middlefield Road |
6 |
| Palo Alto Junior Museum |
1451 Middlefield Road |
6 |
| Rinconada Library |
1213 Newell Road |
3 |
| Sherman Parking Garage |
350 Sherman Avenue |
33 |
| Ted Thompson Parking Garage |
275 Cambridge Avenue |
8 |
| Webster Street Parking Garage |
520 Webster Street |
20 |
| Total |
|
121 Ports |
Click on a pin to learn more about the EV Charging Stations available in Palo Alto and the surrounding regions.
This map may not display correctly in all browsers. If you are unable to view it, please try opening this page in another browser.
Find your EV and Incentives
Use the Electric for All EV finder to search over 60 different models of EVs. You can filter your search by cost, vehicle type, and size and compare up to three cars side by side to find your ideal match.
Utilize the “Search for Incentives” tool to see what EV incentives are available to you. You can search tax credits, rebates, charging station incentives, and more.
For information on obtaining the HOV decal sticker for driving in the carpool express lane at a discount, visit the DMV's Clean Air Vehicle Decals to learn more and apply.