Community Development > Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles

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.

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. Scroll down for a list of stations at the bottom of this page.

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.

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

Two New Charging Stations Are Now Available!

The City of Cambridge has added two new charging station locations in mid February, 2023. Electric Vehicle drivers can now access new Level 2 dual-head charging stations at:

Upland Road at the corner of Raymond Street in Neighborhood Nine, and
Pemberton Street at the corner of Yerxa Road in North Cambridge

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. An accessible version of the presentation is available at the following link:

Click here to access the PDF slide deck that was presented to the Health and Environment Committee

Pilot Program

The City of Cambridge continues to identify more sites for expanding our network of EV chargers. This program aims to increase access to EV charging stations for residents without driveways. The City anticipates two new stations to come online soon at Pemberton Street and at Upland Road.

Incentive Programs

State of 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 (as of November 2022):

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)
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

To read the press release and learn more about the MOR-EV rebate program, click here to visit the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources website.

Federal Incentive Programs

The United States Department of Energy Federal Incentive Program includes up to $7,500 federal income tax credit for clean energy vehicles. Congress recently passed new legislation -- the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 -- which changes credit amounts and requirements for clean energy vehicles based on:

The location where the vehicle was assembled
Limits on personal income
Vehicle cost, or price caps

To learn more about these incentive programs and see a list of which vehicles are eligible, click here to visit the United States Department of Energy office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy website.

Public Forum

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

For more information, contact Bill Deignan at wdeignan@cambridgema.gov.

Get Plugged In ⚡

City-Owned Public Charging Stations in Cambridge

To accommodate EV drivers who do not have access to a driveway for charging at home, Cambridge offers public charging stations throughout the city.

All City-owned charging stations offer a Level 2 charge and charge a rate of $0.189 per kWh drawn and $0.15 per hour.

All other parking fees and rules still 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 Chargers:

Upland Road at Raymond Street (by Raymond Park) NEW
This station came online in mid-February 2023. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Pemberton Street at Yerxa Road (by Rindge Field) NEW
This station came online mid-February, 2023. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Tudor Street Dog Park (Opposite 31 Tudor Street)
This station came online in late October, 2022. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Norfolk Street at Sennott Park
This station came online in late October, 2022. This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.

Department of Public Works, 147 Hampshire Street
There are 5 charging stations, with 8 total charging ports, at the Department of Public Works (DPW), 147 Hampshire St. These charging stations are available for public use Monday 8 p.m. – Tuesday 6 a.m., Tuesday – Friday 5 p.m. – 6 a.m. and all-day on Saturday and Sunday. The stations are located in the parking lot to the left of the Frazier Building, which is accessible via Hampshire St.
First St. Garage, 2nd level, 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.
City Lot #5 on Bishop Allen Drive, between Norfolk and Douglass 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 a time.
City Hall, Inman Street side lot
This station is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can charge 1 vehicle with a level 2 charge at a time.
7 Warren St / 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.
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.
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.
177 Garden Street (St. Peters Field / Montessori School)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
99 Sherman Street
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
341 Rindge Avenue (Comeau Field)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.
73 Sherman Street (St. Peters Field / Salt Shed)
This station can charge 2 vehicles with a level 2 charge at the same time.