New publicly accessible EV chargers at the Orinda Library offer downtown drivers a convenient place to plug in, easing range anxiety and marking a long-awaited step toward expanded electric-vehicle infrastructure in the city.
Finally, there’s a way to charge electric vehicles in downtown Orinda.
Electric-car drivers often suffer from charge-anxiety, wondering whether they can reach their destination, but the new Orinda chargers can help them rest easier.
The new chargers aren’t too far off the freeway, and are located at the Orinda Library. Four EV chargers are in outside stalls in the lot near the library garage door, with an additional two chargers inside the garage in handicap parking spots.
Residents have long asked for the city to bring publicly accessible EV chargers to Orinda. Discussions among city council, the planning committee and staff have been ongoing for years, and the city explored a variety of opportunities with many vendors and evaluated other locations.
Ultimately, the city partnered with Integrative Charging, which specializes in working with municipalities. Orinda City Manager Linda Smith said Integrative Charging was responsible for the purchase and installation of the chargers, and will collect fees from the installations.
The City of Orinda contributed $25,000 for electrical upgrades, which were necessary to put the EV chargers at the site. The parking area around the Orinda Library was selected because of the existing electrical infrastructure, making it the more cost-effective option, Smith said.
Integrative Charging is also responsible for the EV charger maintenance and operations. The city gets a share of the charging fees that Integrative Charging collects from these six chargers.
More publicly accessible EV chargers might be added in the near future. Smith mentioned the possibility of adding more EV chargers in the parking lot at CreekHaus, which will be located up the street from the library. State law requires new construction to provide for a certain number of parking spaces to be prewired for EV chargers, allowing for future chargers to be installed more easily.
Smith said there have been reports that the chargers have already been put to good use.
