Arlington County Government is jump-starting the number of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations it offers for the public.Just a few months ago, the County had provided just 15 public charging stations at facilities including Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center and Arlington Mill Community Center.
A total of 31 charging stations have now been installed at County facilities and are operational, including six at the surface parking lot adjacent to the County’s Bozman Government Center in Courthouse. An additional 12 stations were installed recently at Central Library in Ballston-Virginia Square and will be operational pending activation by Dominion Energy.
The County, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, was recently awarded a federal grant to continue the expansion of public electric vehicle charging at additional locations.
The charging infrastructure, distributed equitably across Arlington, supports the County’s sustainability commitments including a carbon-neutral target of 2050. Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey, herself a new EV owner, says the County’s stations have helped her make the adjustment. “I’ve tried some other chargers, but they often charge a lot more and can be more difficult to use. The County’s chargers are so easy to use, and I know I’m getting a really good deal on the cost of the energy.” She added, “I am excited for our expansion of these charging stations across the county, which will help people transition away from fossil fuels.
“alrington county public EV charging stations.pngA new online map shows the locations of the County’s operational EV chargers. It will be updated as more are added. The federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation offers an online map for stations across the country. In addition, the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) has curated a number of online resources to help achieve EV ownership.
Of the County’s current fleet of non-public-safety sedans and non-schools vehicles, 64% are EVs. They’re supported by 75 operational non-public fleet chargers.
Across Arlington County, private ownership of EVs stands at about 2%, slightly above the regional average. Most of those vehicles have been charged primarily at single-family homes.
The scores of new chargers installed and operated by Arlington County will make the EV option easier to consider for residents of multi-family dwellings and others with financial and space limits.
Prices for using County EV chargers are designed to recover the basic costs of electricity and administrative overhead that was approved by the County Board in July 2022.On Dec. 14, 2024, the County Board amended the charging ordinance to establish a new EV charging rate of $0.1746/kWh (from the current interim rate of $0.1452/kWh), as well as a new “dwell fee,” which will only be incurred if a vehicle remains at a charging station 15 minutes after a charge has been completed. This dell fee will be $3/hour and is capped at $25.
