Full Breakdown
Seattle Expands Curbside EV Charging to 200 Stations
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Expansion Plan
Seattle City Light and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are launching the Curbside Level 2 EV Charging Program, which will add up to 200 new curbside chargers across the city. The expansion is funded by the transportation levy approved by voters in 2024. Residents can submit requests for a charger near their home or apartment through the Seattle.gov portal; applications remain open through fall 2027, after which locations will be reviewed and selected on an ongoing basis. The first installations are scheduled to begin in fall 2027, with the full network expected to be operational by 2030.
Context and Need
More than half of Seattle’s housing stock consists of apartments or condominiums, according to Seattle City Light, leaving many drivers without private off-street parking. The city has set an emissions-reduction target of 83 % for transportation by 2030, making expanded public charging a key strategy for encouraging a shift from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric models. A prior pilot conducted in 2023–2024 installed 58 curbside chargers at 31 locations and reportedly generated strong usage and positive community feedback, according to SDOT.
Operational Details
Seattle City Light states that the Level 2 chargers will deliver roughly 12–30 miles of range per hour of charging, depending on the vehicle and equipment. At the current rate of $0.21 per kilowatt-hour, adding 30 kWh—enough for about 90 miles of range (using the utility’s estimate of 3 miles per kWh)—would cost $6.30. All stations will be publicly accessible and priced uniformly.
Future Timeline
The application window stays open through fall 2027, after which SDOT will continue evaluating sites based on charging gaps, population density, proximity to retail or parks, and existing pollution levels. Installation work will proceed through 2028-2029, aiming for the complete rollout of the 200 stations by the end of 2030.