Philadelphia is giving one company the sole right to install electric vehicle chargers along its city streets. The city’s ChargePHL program will grant an exclusive license to it’s electric, a Brooklyn-based startup, to operate up to 1,000 curbside Level 2 EV chargers over 10 years. Legislation authorizing the deal was introduced on April 30, 2026, by Councilmember Michael Driscoll on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson. City Council is set to vote on the expansion in June 2026.
Philadelphia’s ChargePHL program will give one startup exclusive rights to install up to 1,000 curbside EV chargers citywide.
It’s electric was chosen through a competitive bidding process in 2024. The company already operates curbside chargers in seven other U.S. cities. This deal would be its first major municipal concession agreement. Users bring their own charging cord or receive one to use with the chargers.
The program also includes a second vendor. PositivEnergy will handle EV charging in city-owned lots and parking facilities, while it’s electric focuses solely on curbside spots. Together, both vendors plan to install over 800 total stations over the 10-year period. That works out to approximately 80 new public chargers per year if the deal is approved.
The chargers draw power from nearby buildings and utility poles. That approach avoids slow grid upgrade timelines and cuts installation costs. The first curbside chargers are expected to go live in early 2027.
According to recent data, Philadelphia currently has between 450 and 480 public charging locations in the metro area. Within city limits, there are more than 145 stations, mostly in garages and parking lots. Most are clustered in Center City and Northwest Philadelphia. ChargePHL is designed to fill gaps in dense neighborhoods where many residents don’t have private driveways or garages.
The program targets all 18 city planning districts. It’ll prioritize areas with lots of rideshare drivers and few existing chargers. City officials say the goal is to make EV charging safe and accessible in every neighborhood. OTIS Senior Policy Advisor Anna Kelly said the program supports a safer, cleaner, and greener city. Philadelphia’s Climate Action Playbook also guided the planning behind ChargePHL. More than 60% of households in Philadelphia lack access to off-street parking, making curbside charging a necessity rather than a convenience for a large share of residents. Site selection may also consider an existing Philadelphia waitlist of residents already interested in curbside charging access. According to reports, national polling shows that reliable charging networks are widely recognized by voters as essential to increasing electric vehicle adoption across the country.
References
- https://electrek.co/2026/05/04/1000-curbside-ev-chargers-philadelphia/
- https://www.phila.gov/2026-05-01-chargephl-the-city-of-philadelphias-public-ev-charging-initiative/
- https://globalrenewablenews.com/article/energy/category/energy-storage/84/1199014/it-s-electric-and-the-city-of-philadelphia-join-forces-to-deploy-the-city-s-first-public-curbside-ev-charging-network-with-up-to-1000-chargers-planned-across-all-neighborhoods.html
- https://recharged.com/articles/ev-charging-stations-philadelphia
- https://billypenn.com/2026/04/30/philadelphia-electric-vehicle-ev-charger-itselectric-positivenergy/
- https://cleantechnica.com/2026/05/05/over-800-new-ev-chargers-may-be-coming-to-philadelphia/
