EV Charge Up West Hollywood

Why drive electric?

Transportation is a major contributor to climate change and poor air quality, accounting for largest source of California’s greenhouse gas emissions and our air pollution. Vehicle electrification is an essential strategy for climate action and air quality improvement. As such, California has made electric vehicle (EV) adoption a central piece to meeting the climate goals established by Senate Bill 32 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and has further committed to reduce GHG emissions by 85% below 1990 levels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The City of West Hollywood is also committed to achieving carbon neutrality, and had ambitiously pledged to do so by 2035. As transportation accounts for 30% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions, electrifying transportation will be critical for us to meet our climate goals and improve quality of life for the City’s residents, workers, and visitors.

The market and demand for EVs are rapidly growing, as California has committed $10 billion toward for zero-emission vehicle incentives and infrastructure and has set the target of 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030. And by 2035, all new in-state passenger car and light-duty truck sales will be zero-emission. California has the most registered EVs in the nation, with nearly 1.4 million as of January 2023, and the Los Angeles region has the most ZEV sales in the State. As of September 2016, there were over 500 EVs registered in West Hollywood alone. According to a needs assessment of EVs done by the City, around 43% of all light-duty passenger vehicles and 100% of ridesharing vehicles will be zero-emissions by 2035.

EVs provide both individual and community benefits, including:

Cost savings through up-front purchasing costs like incentives and rebates and lower vehicle maintenance and fuel costs compared to gas-powered cars;
Convenience and flexibility through charging when you sleep, work, or shop and access to carpool lanes;
Cleaner air through reducing pollution where you live, work, and play;
Reduced climate impacts through fewer to no carbon emissions from the tailpipe; and
Economic opportunities through the creation of new green jobs.

Thinking about buying or leasing an EV?

EV 101

There are three main types of electric vehicles: Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)-electric vehicles. Want to learn more about the types of EVs? Click HERE.

To find the right EV for you, you can search for different vehicles, incentives, and explore cost saving opportunities at the below links:

EV Incentives

There are numerous tax credits, rebates, and financial incentives for leasing or purchasing a new or used EV.

Southern California Edison (SCE) Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle Rebate Program	When you purchase or lease a pre-owned electric vehicle (EV), you may be eligible for a rebate amount based on your level of income.
California Clean Fuel Reward	Save up to $750 on the purchase or lease of an eligible new Battery Electric (BEV) or Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicle.
California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project	California residents can receive up to $7,000 for the purchase or lease of a new, eligible zero-emission or plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicle.
California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project Air District & Utility Rebates	Your local air district or electrical utility may provide further resources to maximize your savings when you switch to an EV. These include rebates for purchases or leases and incentives for installing Level 2 home charging stations.
California Vehicle Retirement Consumer Assistance Program	Eligible vehicle owners may receive $1,000-$1,500 to retire their operational vehicle.
SCAQMD Replace Your Ride Program	Replace your older, high-polluting vehicle with a newer vehicle, upgrade to a hybrid or electric vehicle, or get vouchers for car-sharing or public transit passes.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Used Electric Vehicle Rebate Program	If your permanent residence receives electric service from LADWP, Rebates of up to $1,500 now available for qualifying used electric vehicles (EVs) purchased within 12 months of application submittal.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Clean Air Vehicle Decals	California law allows single-occupant use of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes for qualifying clean alternative fuel vehicles.
Federal Electric Vehicle (EV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Tax Credit	Consumers who purchase a new qualified plug-in electric motor vehicle may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500. The exact amount varies depending on vehicle type and the credits are phased out over time. Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit New Vehicles Purchased in 2022 or Before New Vehicles Purchased in 2023 or After
Federal and state laws and incentives	The U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center also compiles a list of federal and state laws and incentives.

Where do I charge my EV in WeHo?

EV Charging 101

EVs don’t require any stops at the gas station, as EV drivers can charge where they park at home or at workplace and public stations as they become increasingly available. Want to learn more about the charging speeds, costs, types, and tips? Click HERE.

Home Charging

All EVs come with a 120-volt “Level 1” portable charger that can be plugged into a standard household outlet. EV drivers and property owners can also purchase and install a 240-volt “Level 2” charger at their home.

To explore more about setting up home charging, you can at the below links:

State law allows tenants the right to request permission to install an electric vehicle charging station at their personal cost. Going further, the West Hollywood City Council adopted Ordinance 17-1017 ensuring that tenants in rent-stabilized buildings have the same right to install a charging station.

For the latest information on California "Right to Charge" Laws, please click HERE, and to view the Staff Report on Ordinance 17-1017 click HERE.

Public Charging

There are currently several public charging stations located across West Hollywood. The City is also working on making public charging stations more accessible throughout the City by installing and planning for additional stations and offering free 2-hour parking for EVs charging in municipal garages. A list of public municipal chargers can be found HERE.

To help locate public and private charging stations nearby, please also visit:

Thinking about installing an EV Charging Station (EVCS)?

EVCS Requirements for New Construction

Builders are required to provide various levels of EV infrastructure in all new construction of multifamily developments, hotels/motels, and nonresidential buildings, including design for compliance with State accessibility requirements for EV infrastructure.

With California’s ambitious climate action plan to drastically slash pollution and transition to clean transportation, the State’s building codes are moving towards more aggressive requirements for EVCS. The recently adopted updates to the 2022 CALGreen (effective January 1, 2023) and the County of Los Angeles’ amendments to 2022 CALGreen have raised the bar and now require a higher percentage of “EV Ready” infrastructure and the installation of EV chargers. These requirements are intended to accelerate the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in West Hollywood to avoid costly future retrofits and address the growing demand.

EV_reqs

Please reference the Green Building Manual (effective January 1, 2023) that details the EVCS requirements for new construction.

The Permitting Process

For new construction

The City’s EV requirements necessitate an electrical permit, at minimum, and the plan check process will ensure compliance with both EV and accessibility requirements before construction begins. Please note:

EVCS Permitting is included as part of the building permit for new construction
Projects must specify EV infrastructure and plan for accessibility on original plans/construction documents

For existing buildings

The City adopted Ordinance No. 18-1028 that further streamlines its approval process for qualifying EVCS. Applicants voluntarily planning to install a charging station at an existing building must complete an application for a Zone Clearance. Applications can be submitted online and all that will need to be submitted is a set of plans. If you have additional questions on the permitting side, please feel free to reach out to Planning@weho.org or call (323) 848-6475.

Building and electrical plan check fees and associated permit fees for qualifying EVCS have been waived by the City of West Hollywood. A zone clearance fee from the Planning Division as well as any State or outside agency fees will apply. Permit fees for any required structural upgrades to existing buildings as part of the system installation are not waived.

For additional information and resources on EVCS permit streamlining, please visit the CA Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

Resources for EV Charging

The City of West Hollywood supports existing multifamily buildings interested in converting parking spaces to EV charging spaces. This includes owners of existing apartment buildings, condominium owners, and tenants interested in working with landlords to explore available options in their buildings. See the following guides for helpful tips on what to consider when converting parking spaces to EV charging spaces:

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Emily Rotman, Assistant Planner, at erotman@weho.org.

SoCal Edison offers free technical assistance for commercial customers and owners/managers of multifamily buildings interested in transitioning to EVs and installing EV charging. Please visit their webpage if you are interested in a no-cost EV Readiness Study.

EVCS Incentives

There are a range of incentives to assist with installing charging stations.

SCAQMD Residential EV Charging Incentive Program	Receive a rebate of $250-$500 to install an EV charging station.
SCE Charge Ready Program	SCE offers three program options to assist commercial, multifamily, and public sector properties with installing EV charging stations (minimum of 4 stations).
SCE Charge Ready Transport Program	The program provides make-ready electric infrastructure to qualifying customers procuring at least 2 medium-heavy-duty (MDHD) EVs. Through the program, SCE covers the cost of distribution infrastructure upgrades on both the utility-side and customer-side of the meter up to the first point of interconnection with a customer’s charging equipment. The program also provides charging equipment rebates up to 50% for eligible customers.
SCE New Construction Rebate Program	SCE gives multifamily property owners holding title (on properties in development or built 2017 or after) up to $3500 for every EV charging port they install.
SCE Small Site Rebate Program	The Charge Ready Small Site Rebate Program was designed as an alternative program for those customers choosing to install a smaller number of EV charging stations. The Small Site Rebate is intended to help offset the costs for the charging equipment and cover a portion of the costs associated with any necessary infrastructure upgrades that may be required to support the installation of the charging equipment. The actual rebate amount paid to qualifying customer will not exceed the customers actual costs.
SCE EV Funding Tool	For medium- and heavy-duty fleets, SCE’s EV Funding Tool helps fleets of all sizes find the funding programs they are eligible for and calculates which programs can be combined to create the best overall funding scenarios possible. This interactive digital tool compiles information from dozens of local, state, and federal programs to help fleets maximize funding opportunities based on their unique fleet profile.
CALeVIP Southern California Level 2 Incentive Project	Funded by the California Energy Commission and implemented by the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the Clean Power Alliance, the Southern California Level 2 Incentive Project promotes access to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by providing rebates for Level 2 (L2) Chargers.
LADWP Residential EV Charging Station Rebate Program	Eligible LADWP customers may receive a rebate of up to $1,000 for the purchase and installation of a qualified residential Level 2 (240-volt) charging station and a $250 rebate for the installation of a dedicated EV meter.
LADWP Commercial EV Charging Station Rebate Program	Rebates are available to help offset the cost of installing commercial charging equipment, including Level 2 charging station rebates to charge light-duty EVs of up to $5,000 per charging station if deployed in a Disadvantaged Community; direct current fast chargers (DCFCs) rebates to charge light-duty EVs of up to $75,000 per charging station depending on power output; and charging station rebates to charge medium- and heavy-duty EVs of up to $125,000 per charging station depending on power output.
Electric For All Incentive Assistant	Look up home charger incentives by zip code.
Federal and state laws and incentives	The U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center also compiles a list of federal and state laws and incentives.

How can I install an EV charger at my apartment or condo?

Most apartment buildings, including older ones, can accommodate multiple Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) EV chargers.

L1 chargers draw power comparable to a hair dryer and add about 6 miles of range per hour (depending on the EV model)
L2 chargers draw power comparable to a dryer or oven and about 15 miles of range per hour

If your property does not have the capacity to support L2 EV Chargers, consider L1 EV Chargers, which require less energy while still allowing residents to charge overnight or during the day for their commutes.

Information for Property Managers

State laws facilitate EV charging installation by-right within limited timeframes. Options range in cost and can suit diverse needs. L1 charging requires the least power and generally provides a sufficient day-to-day driving range for most people.

Smart Plugs are a cost-effective option compared to standalone stations, easier to install (resemble regular power outlets), and require less maintenance. They offer individual metering for convenient billing, and their flexibility supports future technology upgrades.

Information for Tenants

California State Law requires property managers to allow their tenants to install an electric vehicle charging station at their allocated parking space provided the following conditions are met:

No more than 10 % of parking spaces are already EV charging stations.
Parking is provided as a lease agreement.
There are five or more parking spaces.
The dwelling is not subject to a residential rent control ordinance executed, extended, or removed before January 1, 2019, unless there is a conflicting existing agreement.

The lessee must submit their request in writing and is responsible for the installation, maintenance, removal, and maintenance of the charging station's infrastructure. The lessee may need to maintain personal liability coverage for the space, but only if the installation isn’t performed by a licensed electrician (i.e., if they install it themselves) or the charging station equipment isn’t certified by a licensed testing laboratory approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor. For more details, refer to the full text of the SB 638.

How is WeHo planning for EVs?

The West Hollywood City Council issued a directive in May 2016 to undertake a number of initiatives to improve EV charging readiness in the City.
An update on the City's progress on EV initiatives as of July 2020 can be found HERE.
The West Hollywood City Council adopted Ordinance 22-1190 in October 2022 to prohibit new fossil fuel services stations and additional pumps at existing service stations.
The City partnered with Tesla to install 8 Superchargers at 8759-8755 Sunset Boulevard.
The Design District Streetscape Project will expand the City’s public EV charging infrastructure with the installation of up to 30 new EVCS in the Design District area.
The WeHo Climate Action Plan calls for numerous actions to promote EV readiness, infrastructure, adoption, and education.

Where can I find additional resources?

City of West Hollywood

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