Philadelphia City Council Passes Bill Fining Non-operational EV Charging Owners

On October 18, 2024, the WHYY News Climate Desk by PBS reported that The Philadelphia City Council recently passed a bill aimed at resolving problems with inoperable EV chargers, which now awaits the mayor’s approval. The measure allows the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to fine property owners who fail to keep their electric vehicle chargers in working order. This legislation applies to properties with more than ten parking spaces, requiring property owners to obtain permits from L&I before installing chargers, ensure that certified electricians handle the installation, clean up any vandalism, and maintain the chargers’ functionality. The bill seeks to improve the reliability of EV charging infrastructure throughout the city.

“[When a charger] is not working and you’re almost out of juice in your car, it’s a very anxious time,” said at-large Councilmember Nina Ahmad, who sponsored the legislation. “We want to address range anxiety by making sure that these chargers are maintained.”

Under the new bill passed this month, if the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) discovers that a public EV charger is out of order, it can impose a $300 fine on the property owner. This measure is part of the city’s efforts to ensure that EV chargers remain functional and accessible, reinforcing the responsibility of property owners to maintain their charging infrastructure.

“It seems to be the only way people pay attention to going that extra step of making sure your charger is operational,” Ahmad said. “This is really not to penalize charging station owners as much as making the user experience positive, so people actually adopt more use of EVs.”

If signed, the newly passed bill would take effect on April 1, 2025. It builds upon a previous version, finalized in late spring, which applies only to residential and commercial properties and went into effect on October 1. Basil Merenda, the commissioner of Philadelphia’s Inspections, Safety & Compliance Department, testified during a City Council committee hearing that the department will be ready to enforce the new regulations starting in April.

EV Charging Reliability

In June, a pioneering scholarly review was released, reporting on one million consumer reviews of EV charging stations. The study was led by a Harvard Business School fellow, and reveals significant dissatisfaction with the current state of EV charging infrastructure. The study estimates that drivers are able to successfully recharge their vehicles using non-residential EV chargers only 78% of the time, underscoring major reliability issues. This analysis highlights the pressing need for improvement in the infrastructure and suggests potential business opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to address these gaps in the market. EVSTAR, ADS-TEC, and WattsUP are a few of the companies leading the way.

In August, Andrew Hoehner, CEO of EVSTAR, answered questions from EVinfo.net in an interview, about how EVSTAR handles the ongoing reliability problem with its extended EV charging warranties.

ChargeBox by ADS-TEC Energy is field proven with 98% up-time. Installed at more than 500 sites within Europe and North America, ChargeBox is robust and highly reliable.

WattsUp’s AI-driven predictive maintenance systems ensure seamless operation and exceptional user experiences, thereby fostering confidence and convenience for EV users worldwide.