Community Development > Electric Vehicle Charging

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Electric Vehicles (EVs) create less greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution than traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles. EV drivers benefit from better fuel economy and financial incentives, and contribute to cleaner air and better health for the community. To learn more about Electric Vehicles, including incentives, where to buy, and information on getting home charging equipment installed, check out resources provided by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

The City recognizes the importance of EV infrastructure along with other sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, biking, and taking public transportation. There are several City-owned public charging stations throughout Cambridge. Please visit the bottom of this webpage for a bullet list of available charging stations in the City.

If you are a private property owner with a parking space looking to install EV charging, or would like to suggest that your landlord install EV charging in the driveway where you rent, here is a link for Eversource utility customers that includes preferred manufacturers and installers contact information.

Project Staff Contact Information

Charlie Creagh, AICP | Transportation Planner | ccreagh@cambridgema.gov | 617-349-9167

Bill Deignan | Sr Transportation Program Manager | wdeignan@cambridgema.gov | 617-349-4631

Online Public Input Map Tool

The City has developed an online map tool for collecting suggested EV charging locations throughout the City. We will use the input gathered from this map tool, as well as additional factors, to determine the location of future charging stations. Here is a link to the online map tool.

If for any reason you can't use this map tool, contact ccreagh@cambridgema.gov and include a street and cross street where you would like to see an EV charger installed and we will manually add it to the map.

The Latest

Vehicles Parked at Charging Stations Must be Actively Charging

Drivers who park electric vehicles at City-owned EV Charging Stations must be actively charging their vehicle. Vehicles that are not plugged in and charging may receive a ticket. Fees may also be charged if a vehicle is finished charging and is not moved within the grace period.

Traffic regulation #16.3f states: “When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle, including an Electric Vehicle at any time in any parking space designated for Electric Vehicle Charging unless such vehicle has connected the Charging Station’s Charging Cord to the Charging Port on the vehicle. All other regulations and restrictions established at the parking space shall also apply.”

Please read signs carefully and follow all posted rules and regulations to avoid a traffic violation.

New Charging Stations!

The City of Cambridge is pleased to announce new level-2 charging stations on Little Mass Ave, between Chauncy St and Waterhouse St:

Two level-2 charging stations are for City of Cambridge residents with valid City Parking Permits, and
Two level-2 charging stations are for visitors to Cambridge with a maximim time limit of two hours

As with all City-owned charging stations, vehicles parked at these locations must be actively charging their vehicle.

Future Electric Vehicle Charging Locations in Cambridge

The City of Cambridge is currently working to expand our network of EV chargers. We have identified roughly 20 locations for EV charger installation. The City has a goal to increase access to electric vehicle chargers and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Installing electric vehicle chargers helps us achieve these goals. Please see below for a written list, and map, of sites currently planned for construction starting in 2026 and 2027:

Level-2 Curb-side EV Charging Locations:

River Street, at Williams Street
Bond Street, mid-block
Bryant Street, at Scott Street
Waverly Street, at Erie Street
Columbia Street, at Webster Avenue
Ware Street, mid-block
Harvard Street, at Quincy Street
Upland Road, at Richdale Avenue
Oxford Street, between Wendell Street and Sacramento Street
Haskell Street, at Mass Ave
Norfolk Street, at Cambridge Street

Level-2 Curb-side EV Charging at Parks:

Flagg Street, at Corporal Burns Park
Corporal McTernan Street, at Dana Park
Charles Street, at Anthony Costa Park
Jefferson Street, at Gannett-Warren Pals Park
Field Street, at the Universal Design Playground
Sciarappa Street, at Silva Park
Columbia Street, at Clement Morgan Park
Harvard Street, at Greene Rose Heritage Park

Level-3 Charging: We are finalizing candidate locations and will announce Level-3 EV charging locations once they have made it through preliminary engineering.

Please use this link to view a map of the locations that we are currently considering for EV charger installation. In addition to those sites shown in the map, we are also considering other locations for future years. Please note that some locations in the above written list and map will change. To receive construction updates for planned installations, please sign up for our e-newsletter. To sign up, scroll down this webpage to where it says 'Get Plugged In' and enter your email address.

Across Sidewalk Electric Vehicle Charging Permit

The City of Cambridge has a pilot permit program to allow residents who do not have access to off-street parking to charge electric vehicles. Please read below for more information on how to apply for the annual permit, the cost, the requirements, and areas that are eligible for the application

How To Apply: Please use this link to access the online application

Cost: The cost of the annual permit is $200

Requirements for obtaining a permit:

Must have a valid City of Cambridge Parking Permit
Must have a letter from a certified electrician confirming that there is a ground-floor outdoor outlet that is protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter ("GFCI")
Must have proof of homeowners or renters insurance
Must provide an ADA accessible ramp over the cord to ensure the sidewalk remains accessible for people walking

Requirements for maintaining a permit: Please use this link to access the online application which includes the requirements for maintaining a permit

Full policy: Please use this link to access the full policy

Cable protectors: Please use this link to see different suggested cable protectors

Areas that are eligible: If you live within 1/8 mile of an existing city-owned street side EV charging station, you are not eligible for the pilot application. Please use this link to see a map of eligible areas . Other locations that are not eligible include major pedestrian routes and streets with separated bike lanes.

Right-to-Charge Law

This law is specific to the City of Cambridge and was signed by the Governor in December 2022. The Right-to-Charge law is for owners of units in Condo and multi-family buildings. The law gives owners the right to install EV charging in their building at the owners expense. EV charging systems must be installed by a licensed and qualified electrician or contractor.

Some possible issues may arise in the interpretation of the law, including a desire to have EV charging installed in a particular deeded parking space, where there could be significant engineering constraints. The law indicates that using common parking spaces for transition to EV charging, as long as the space is available to all building residents, could alleviate this problem. Additionally, the law does not seem to solve the problem of the potential need to upgrade a buildings' electrical capacity to handle the new electrical load as a result of the installation of EV chargers.

Please use this link to download a PDF copy of the law text.

Incentives

Massachusetts Incentive Programs

The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles Program (MOR-EV) provides rebates for buying or leasing Electric Vehicles (EVs). The rebate program includes:

Eligible battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) rebates up to $3,500
Vehicle sales price must be $55,000 or less
Eligible plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can receive rebates of $1,500 (this will likely phase out in Spring 2023)
Point-of-sale: Rebate applications can take place at dealerships at the time of sale or lease
Qualifying low-income individuals can receive additional $1,500
Qualifying used electric vehicles are able to apply for rebate
Caps on the number of fleet electric vehicles acquired (that weigh less than 8,000 pounds) have been eliminated

Here is a link to the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles program. If you have additional questions, see the FAQ about the MOR-EV program at this link.

Federal Incentive Programs

Due to the changing priorities of the current federal administration, please check the Alternative Fuels Data Center for the most up-to-date information.

Get Plugged In ⚡

Past Meetings

June 2025 Meeting

The City held the 4th community meeting with folks from the Department of Transportation on June 10, 2025 to provide updates on the construction schedule, funding sources, and future locations. Attendees also had the chance to weigh in on Mass Clean Energy Center funded locations. Please use this link to view the PDF presentation.

June 2024 Meeting

The City held the 3rd community meeting with folks from the City's Community Development Department, Department of Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation on June 13, 2024 to provide updates on the construction schedule, securing funding, and future locations. Please use this link to view the PDF presentation.

May 2023 Meeting

The City held the 2nd community meeting with folks from the City's Community Development Department, Department of Public Works, and Traffic, Parking, and Transportation to on May 24, 2023 to discuss our approach to install additional electric vehicle chargers on City streets and in municipal parking lots. Please use this link to view the PDF presentation.

January 2022 Meeting

The City of Cambridge hosted a public forum to discuss the EV charging station Pilot Program on January 12, 2022. Please use this link to view the PDF presentation.

Presentation to City Council

The City of Cambridge Community Development Department and Department of Public Works presented an update to members of City Council at the Health and Environment Committee Hearing in November, 2021. Please use this link to view the Health and Environment Committee PDF presentation.

City-Owned Public Charging Stations in Cambridge

To accommodate EV drivers who do not have access to a driveway for charging, Cambridge offers City-owned charging stations throughout the city. Parking meters and fees in paid lots must be paid. Permit parking at curb-side and some parking lot locations rules apply. To see other charging stations in the ChargePoint network located throughout the region, click here. The Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center also has a map of charging stations made by other manufacturers.

City Owned Curb-side EV Chargers:

Mass Ave (Between Chauncy Street and Waterhouse Street)
This station can charge 4 vehicles with a level 2 charge.
NOTE: two charging heads require permit parking, and two charge heads are at a location where anyone can park.

Robert Paine Park (Saint Mary Road at Amory Street)
This station can charge 4 vehicles with a level 2 charge.
Moore Youth Center (12 Gilmore Street)
This station can charge 1 vehicle with a level 2 charge. NOTE this parking area includes one EV charging station dedicated for municipal fleet vehicles.

City Hall Annex (Inman Street at Broadway)
This station can charge 3 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time. NOTE this parking area includes two dedicated EV charging spaces for municipal fleet vehicles.
Raymond Park (Upland Road)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Pemberton Street at Yerxa Road (by Rindge Field)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Tudor Street Dog Park
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Sennott Park (Norfolk Street at Broadway)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

City Owned EV Chargers in Public Parking Lots:

Water Treatment Plant (250 Fresh Pond Parkway)
This station can charge 6 vehicles with a level 2 charge. NOTE this parking area includes 10 EV charging stations dedicated for municipal fleet vehicles.

Department of Public Works (147 Hampshire Street)
There are 5 charging stations, with 8 total charging ports, at the Department of Public Works. These charging stations are available for public use Monday 8:00 P.M. – Tuesday 6:00 A.M., Tuesday – Friday 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 A.M. and all-day on Saturday and Sunday. The stations are accessible via Hampshire Street.
First Street Garage (entrance on Spring Street)
This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Municipal Lot 5 (84 Bishop Allen Drive)
This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at a time.
City Hall (Inman Street side lot)
This station is open to the public off-hours only. It can charge 1 vehicle with a level 2 charge at a time.
Municipal Lot 12 (Warren Street / Macarelli Way)
This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
Municipal Lot 8 (375 Green Street)
This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
Municipal Lot 9 (420 Green Street)
This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
St. Peters Field (177 Garden Street)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
Danehy Park Playground (Sherman Street near Bellis Circle)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
Comeau Field (341 Rindge Avenue)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
Salt Shed (73 Sherman Street)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.