Electric Vehicles (EV), Charging Stations, and Infrastructure

EV 101 and Benefits

General Information

Electric Vehicle Types:
  • EV: Fully electric, no gasoline power
  • Hybrids: Gasoline engine with small additive electric battery
  • PHEV: Plug-in electric, runs on either the electric battery or gasoline engine
EV Charger Levels:
ev-charging-basics-graphic-1-848x1024.jpg

 

Benefits

Transportation is the largest contributor to Cupertino's greenhouse gas emissions. By switching to zero or low carbon vehicles, we can make the biggest impact on reducing our greenhouse gas output and gain benefits such as:

  • Cleaner Air and Better Public Health: EVs produce no tailpipe emissions which reduces air pollution and exposure to harmful particulate matters linked to respiratory problems and health issues
  • Cost and Energy Efficiency: EVs can reduce fuel costs because of lower electricity prices as compared to gas vehicles and electric-drive technology which converts more energy to power
  • Less Maintenance: With fewer moving parts, an EV will require fewer trips to the auto shop for maintenance
  • Reduced Noise Pollution: EVs emit minimal noise as opposed to gas or diesel cars which generate engine noise, exhaust fumes, and vibrations

Cupertino's Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0 includes GHG reduction goals such as Measure TR-3: increase zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption 46 to 35 percent for passenger vehicles and 20 percent for commercial vehicles by 2030 and 100 percent for all vehicles by 2040. Learn more about our CAP 2.0 on our Climate Action page.

 

Financial Support (Rebates, Funding, Incentives)

*All financial support is subject to change. Please reference each respective website for updated details.

Financial Incentives

Income-Qualifying Incentives

Other Resources

 

Commercial and Multifamily Complex - Guide to Installing

How to Submit a Building Permit for an EV Charger

Cupertino offers an Expedited Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS).

1) Follow the steps in our Expedited Permitting Process for EVCS Checklist(PDF, 861KB) and contact permitcenter@cupertino.gov for any questions or concerns. The City of Cupertino's Building Division also offers pre-application meetings to go over installing EV chargers at multifamily units and commercial properties.

2) Review PG&E's EV Customer Roadmap.to help with site planning and design.

3) Before purchase or installation, review all options for resources, rebates, and more.

 

 Resources

  • SVCE's Multifamily EV Charging Incentives - If you are planning to install EV charging at a multifamily dwelling, you can receive up to $100,000 for installation. Must apply before purchase or installation. 
  • PG&E's EV Customer Roadmap - Site planning and design for EV chargers
    • Grid Resource Integration Portal - Information on potential project sites for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). This includes hosting capacity, forecast data, grid needs, and other information about PG&E's electric distribution grid.
  • SVCE Business and Contractor Hub - Rebates, incentives, retrofits, and additional support
  • EV Equity Roadmap - Free, open-access platform for local government and stakeholders to inform decisions on making EV and mobility infrastructure investments

Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC) on EV Chargers

 

EVCS Graphic
  • EV Capable - Some Assembly Required
    • Electrical Panel Capacity and Raceway exist. Not yet operational; requires additional electrical work.
  • EV Ready - Plug and Play
    • Electrical Panel Capacity, Raceway, Conduit, and Receptacle installed. Operational, but requires a portable cord set.
  • EV Charging Station (EVCS) - Installed and Ready to Go!
    • Electrical Panel Capacity, Raceway, Conduit, and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment installed. Fully operational.

 

Residential Guide to Chargers and Rates

Buying an EV? Consider your choices for cars and financing options with the help of PG&E.

 

Installing an EV charger at home allows you to have full control over your charging and comes with ease of access. Before installing, here are some charger installation considerations:

  1. Home Ownership: Do you own your home? If not, talk to the landlord about EV chargers and refer them to the "Commercial and Multifamily -Guide to Installing" section.
  2. Placement: Do you have space either in a garage or private outdoor parking spot for a charger?
  3. Electricity: Your home’s electricity panel may not yet be properly suited for a high voltage EV charger. Talk to an electrician. Find an EVITP certified electrician here. 
  4. Permitting: Before installing a charger follow Cupertino's Expedited Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Checklist(PDF, 861KB) and obtain the permit through our online portal.
  5. Electricity Bill: Your electricity bill may go up when you charge your car at home. It may be cost effective to switch to an EV rate plan, either through SVCE or PG&E. SVCE also offers the SVCE GridShift App which allows you to set your EV charging based on your timing and charging needs while receiving the cheapest electricity from off-peak hours.

You must obtain a permit from the City of Cupertino to install an EV charger at home. 

Cupertino Municipal Code (CMC)

Learn More

Municipal and Public EV Charging Stations

Cupertino-Owned Public EV Chargers

All city owned public chargers are level 2. The cost is $0.40 per charge plus $1.50 per hour for the Chargepoint chargers. The Beam chargers are currently free due to the unreliability of available solar battery power. 

The City owns and operates public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations located at the Library, City Hall, and Quinlan Community Center. In alignment with our citywide goal of installing 719 EV chargers, more EV chargers will be installed at City facilities. Learn more about how the City is supporting EV charging and an internal EV fleet with the Cupertino Utility Data & Insights Dashboard.

Facility & Location Number of Charging Ports/parking spots
Cupertino Library 8 (2 ADA)
Cupertino Library - BEAM Portable Solar Chargers (subject to location change) 2
Quinlan Community Center 4
City Hall - Rodriguez Avenue   1
 Sports Center  4 (1 ADA)

 Have a question about our charging stations or want to report an issue? Submit a request through Cupertino 311.

Public EV Chargers

EV charging stations are available all over the Bay Area. Find public EV chargers and alternative fueling stations (U.S. Department of Energy). 

State Regulations

California has multiple regulations in place to further the adoption of EVs and installation of EV chargers.

  • Advanced Clean Fleet - requires State and Local Government Agency fleets to reduce emissions by increasing the use of Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) as vehicles are normally replaced.
  • SB 1236 (2015) - requires cities and counties to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS).
  • AB 970 (2021) - clarified provisions on the existing SB 1236 which requires all types of cities and counties to streamline and expediate the approval process for installing EVCS.