Contract Would Bring Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to Victory, Robinson Parks

City electric charging stations, shown at the Marengo Charging Plaza at 155 E. Green St. (Image courtesy City of Pasadena)

The Pasadena Department of Water and Power is seeking the City Council’s approval of a contract for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in Victory Park and Robinson Park.

Out of nine bids submitted in December, PWP is recommending the city contract with Sacramento-based Baran Electric, which offered to install two direct-current fast charging (DCFC) stations and 23 Level 2 chargers in Victory Park, and five DCFC stations and 20 Level 2 chargers at Robinson Park, for a cost not exceeding $405,650.

Aside from the hardware, Baran Electric will provide associated maintenance services and user account management, revenue collection, monitoring, telemetry, and reporting services for three years, with two optional one-year extensions for up to a total of five years, according to a PWP report to the City Council.

The report also said PWP has already procured the needed DCFC chargers from OneSource Distributors, in accordance with a contract that the City Council approved in July 2019 as the Marengo Charging Plaza was being constructed. This procurement was also in support of other future charging station projects.

PWP’s recommendation will be considered as one of the consent items Monday at the City Council’s regular online meeting.

This is the first time Baran Electric is entering into a contract with Pasadena. PWP said the contract will support the council’s strategic planning goals, the city’s Climate Action Plan, urban environmental accords, and the Pasadena General Plan in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also supports expanding sustainable mobility and land use, and the city’s commitment to a more sustainable community.

The contract is also in support of former Gov. Jerry Brown’s goal of installing 250,000 charging stations in the state by 2025 and his executive order to help accelerate the market to five million zero-emission vehicles on California’s roads by 2030, PWP said.

The report added funding for the contract will be addressed by using approximately $200,000 from the city’s existing Utility Undergrounding Fund and revenue derived from the Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits for the balance.