The City of Oakland celebrated the opening of an EVgo Inc. fast charging station at 519 Lake Park Avenue in Oakland, CA. Located near Lake Merritt, the public electric vehicle charging station features six 200kW fast chargers, capable of charging a vehicle up to 80% in 15-45 minutes, depending on the capability of the vehicle. This project adds to the 235 existing public EV chargers in Oakland, expanding the network of infrastructure to support the growing number of electric vehicles among residents and visitors.

The neighborhoods surrounding Lake Merritt have some of the high densities of older apartment buildings in the Bay Area – buildings where it is particularly challenging to add onsite electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). This charging station therefore overcomes a major barrier for renters and apartment dwellers in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) access. Mayor Schaaf joined Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, Shayna Hirshfield-Gold, Oakland's Climate Program Manager, Arthur Bart-Williams from GRID Alternatives, and Sara Rafalson, EVgo's Vice President of Market Development and Public Policy, to announce the new charging station.

The charging station near Lake Merritt supports the City's Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan, a roadmap for transitioning to a fully zero-emission vehicle transportation system by 2045.