According to the initiators, the necessary electric infrastructure is already in place with the lighting poles, and the mayor’s office has tasked the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting (LABSL) to install 10,000 EV chargers on the poles while replacing existing bulbs with energy-efficient ones. The installation is supported by technology from AmpUp, “a charging software provider that specializes in shared charging networks,” and charging stations from EVSE, which manufactures charging stations with retractable cables.

So far, the city has already installed over 750 chargers and the Bureau of Street Lighting is now expanding the effort with a project that will use technology from AmpUp, a charging software provider that specializes in shared charging networks, and EVSE, a provider of retractable-cable EV charging stations. In total, the city features over 220,000 lighting poles, so there is much potential for expansion. A mayoral target has been set to install 10,000 chargers across the city, alongside a BSL initiative to replace existing bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.

“Pole-mounted chargers make EV charging more accessible to a broader population, including those living in multi-unit dwellings or areas where traditional charging stations are scarce,” said Dean Spacht, vice president of sales and marketing of EVSE. “While our patented retractable cable design addresses the city’s urban safety and vandalism concerns, AmpUp’s platform adds reliability and a crucial layer of grid intelligence. Their demand response feature allows for managed loads during peak demand, supporting grid stability. The EVSE-AmpUp team delivers a smart, secure urban charging solution that serves EV owners and contributes to overall energy management in cities.”