Four Reasons to Put a Little Sunshine Under Your Hood

Want a chance to harness the power of the sun to power your next drive? We’ve got you covered.

Through the end of September, drivers of electric cars can charge  emissions-free vehicles using sunshine and a few dollars.

To reduce carbon emissions in San Francisco and promote the adoption of electric vehicles, we’re working with the Department of the Environment and Charge Across Town, a nonprofit that promotes electric vehicle use, to bring a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station to a public parking lot at Ocean and 19th avenues.

Solar charging is available for up to two hours of charging from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Here are just a few reasons to give the solar station a try:

1. It’s completely green and emissions-free. The power provided to your electric vehicle is 100 percent renewable straight from the sun.
2. It only takes two hours to charge your car.
3. It’s convenient — EV owners can charge-up while they park in the metered lot. Note: while the charging is free, it’s in a metered parking lot. Drivers who use the charging station will need to pay the meter ($2/hour) for the parking space. 
4. There are tons of tasty and fun things to do nearby while your car charges, including: 

• Step inside Ambrosia Bakery for coffee, a fresh baked croissant, scone, French desert or perhaps a deli sandwich, or
• Indulge in pleasure! Stop by the popular Zanze’s Cheesecake for a slice of mousse-like cheesecake, or
• Enjoy a good meal at Jitra Thai Cuisine, or
• Enjoy shopping at the nearby Stonestown Mall, or
• Work off that tasty cuisine in a Zumba fitness class at the nearby Stonestown YMCA.

Electric vehicle use is increasing in San Francisco. The San Francisco Bay Area is the number one market in the country for electric cars and home to approximately 60,000 of the state’s 150,000 electric vehicles.  

Working with the San Francisco Department of the Environment and Charge Across Town, we’re hosting a portable solar charger for three months this year. Two other parking lots at 801 Stanyan Street and at 1 Bryant Street are also hosting free solar chargers as part of a grant-funded pilot program, known as Driving on Sunshine. At the end of the pilot, which concludesthis year, a lottery will decide which parking lots in the city will permanently receive an electric vehicle solar charging station.

The charging station will remain in the Ocean Avenue lot through the end of September.