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Driving electric vehicle adoption

Portland, OR Chooses it’s electric as Curbside EV Charging Vendor for Delivery Workers

On November 9, 2026, it’s electric announced its selection as the vendor to bring curbside electric vehicle charging infrastructure to Portland, Oregon, through a partnership with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) Zero Emission Delivery City Climate Innovation Challenge and the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

The initiative aims to advance the electrification of urban goods movement by providing convenient public Level 2 charging for gig-economy and delivery workers. The project addresses a significant challenge for drivers who rely on electric vehicles but lack access to home charging.

It’s Electric is now seeking property owners in Portland to host free public Level 2 curbside chargers in front of their buildings. The initial focus is on denser neighborhoods and multifamily properties, where residents and delivery drivers often face limited charging options. Participating property owners can earn revenue from hosting the charging equipment while helping expand neighborhood charging access.

Portland homeowners and building owners can sign up to host a charger at no installation cost. EV drivers who cannot charge at home can also register to help identify suitable charger locations on their blocks.

The project represents another step toward making electric mobility more accessible while supporting cleaner urban deliveries. Expanding curbside charging can help gig workers, delivery drivers, and apartment residents overcome one of the most common barriers to EV adoption: convenient access to charging.

(Image: it’s electric)

It’s Electric Brings Convenient Curbside EV Charging to Urban Neighborhoods

Access to convenient, affordable charging remains one of the biggest obstacles to electric vehicle adoption, particularly for drivers who live in apartments, condos, and homes without garages or private driveways. Brooklyn-based it’s electric is addressing this challenge with a distributed curbside charging network designed specifically for urban communities.

The company estimates that 40 million drivers cannot transition to electric vehicles without more affordable and convenient charging infrastructure. Its approach uses existing electrical capacity at properties throughout cities to make public charging more accessible without requiring extensive new infrastructure.

It’s Electric partners with property owners to install low-profile Level 2 chargers along public-facing curbs. The company evaluates each property’s curbside space and electrical panel, determines eligibility, obtains the necessary permits, and handles installation and maintenance. The chargers use available electrical capacity from participating properties, allowing owners to earn passive income while helping expand neighborhood charging access. Installation comes at no cost to property owners.

The charging equipment also takes a different approach to traditional public chargers. Its streamlined design eliminates screens, touchpads, credit card readers, and permanently attached cables. Instead, drivers receive a lightweight, portable charging cable when they join the network. They can carry the cable and use it to connect to compatible chargers throughout the it’s electric network.

This design reduces equipment complexity while keeping sidewalks and streetscapes less cluttered. It also offers a practical alternative for urban drivers who cannot install home charging equipment.

The company began in Brooklyn and is expanding its network across U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Jersey City, Alexandria, Yonkers, and Newburgh, with additional communities planned.

Property owners can join neighborhood waitlists to bring curbside charging to their properties. EV drivers can sign up for membership when service becomes available in their neighborhoods, while municipalities can work with the company to develop distributed curbside charging using existing electrical infrastructure.

(Image: it’s electric)

EVinfo.net’s Take: Why Curbside Charging Matters for EV Adoption

Expanding public charging is essential to making electric vehicles accessible beyond homeowners with garages and dedicated parking spaces. Millions of Americans rely on street parking, shared residential parking, or apartment complexes where installing private charging equipment can be difficult or prohibitively expensive.

Curbside Level 2 charging offers an opportunity to make overnight and routine charging more convenient without requiring drivers to travel to dedicated charging stations. It also gives cities another way to expand charging availability while making better use of existing electrical infrastructure.

As EV adoption grows, charging solutions must accommodate the realities of urban living. It’s Electric’s property-partnership model offers an approach that connects property owners, municipalities, and drivers while addressing one of the industry’s most persistent infrastructure challenges.

Website: itselectric.us