FOLLOWUP: Seattle City Light confirms new EV-charger locations

| Transportation | Utilities | West Seattle news

One month ago, we reported four locations where Seattle City Light had applied for permits to install EV chargers in public parking spaces. Today, SCL released its list of 31 installation locations citywide, including those four in West Seattle, plus a fifth, South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). SCL’s announcement notes the 31 sites were chosen by a panel from SCL and SDOT who reviewed 1,800 community requests received last year, reviewed by a panel from SCL and SDOT. Construction is expected to start soon and SCL believes half of the stations will be ready by the end of May, the rest by the end of summer. The announcement notes, “Each charging site was designed based on its own individual location with 12 planned to be installed on wood poles, 6 on new steel poles, and 13 sites installed on stand-alone pedestals” like the one in the SCL photo above. The full list of West Seattle sites:

4800 block California Ave SW
2100 block California Ave SW
6000 block 16th Ave SW
4800 block Fauntleroy Way SW
7000 block 17th Ave SW

SCL will charge its standard Level 2 charger rates, currently $0.21 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is three miles worth of power for the average EV, the utility says.

xavier March 23, 2023 (7:14 pm)

3 miles per kwh is a very low estimate — it’s more like 3.5-3.9 in the winter and 3.7-4.2 in the summer. Just in case anybody is doing the math or a cost benefit analysis prior to an EV vehicle purchase.

EVGuy March 23, 2023 (8:20 pm)

Level 2 chargers are also somewhat useless, so it’s sort of sad to see SCL pushing them. If you want to do a full charge you’re talking 6+ hours. Level 3 chargers are under an hour usually for a full charge, or at least to 80%, and should be the standard.

Mr J March 23, 2023 (9:11 pm)

The goal is access, Level 2 chargers are easier to install and the infrastructure already exists. Level 3 chargers cost more and take more time. I’m not in a rush and I’d happily charge my car for a few hours at one of these to give me a boost.
CAM March 23, 2023 (10:38 pm)

The goal is to put these chargers in locations where they are going to be used by people who live close by and cannot have a home charger due to restrictions on access at home (renting, no parking, etc.). They would function as “home chargers” for people to use in their home areas. Level 3 chargers would not be necessary for this purpose or appropriate. They wouldn’t be the equivalent of what people have in their garages because you can’t have a level 3 charger at home.

David March 23, 2023 (9:52 pm)

Level 2 chargers are great. They’re what you should use when you stop to “shop”, see a movie, etc. You only need high speed chargers (the ones that can fill you up on 30 minutes) in special occasions, like the start or return of a big road trip. These aren’t MEANT to fully charge your car from 0 to 80% or so, but to “top off” your car while you’re in the area.There are high speed super chargers in the metro area (both Tesla and Electrify America). But those are different use case than these neighborhood ‘top off’ chargers.

CAM March 23, 2023 (10:40 pm)

Have they given any update on the chargers on 39th? They still are not repaired and the estimate was they would be fixed before the end of February. Thanks!

CarDriver March 24, 2023 (7:05 am)

The charger I’ve seen on Fuhrman has a parking time limit. I’m betting parking enforcement won’t be monitoring that close. What /who will stop someone from staying an extended time charging or just sitting??

Sillygoose March 24, 2023 (7:48 am)

Maybe the high speed ones can be installed for the college students. Any cameras on these? Any anti theft devices?

Westwood March 24, 2023 (12:49 pm)

As someone who recently went to SSC to use the chargers, I can tell you that 3/4 had the cables cut.

Question Authority March 24, 2023 (9:02 am)

What’s going to make these cords last any longer than the others cut off and sold for scrap copper?

WSB March 24, 2023 (9:33 am)

Already have that question out.
TAF March 24, 2023 (10:12 am)

These stations have retractable cords that only extend if you start a charging session and retract when the session ends. So if someone wants to steal the cord they’ll need to initiate a charging session first and they’ll have their info recorded. Of course there are ways around this like using a stolen credit card, but it at least functions as a good deterrence so lazy criminals will move on to easier targets.

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