Curbside EV charging company it’s electric has announced an agreement with the City of Philadelphia to deploy up to 1,000 Level 2 curbside chargers across all 18 city planning districts. City Councilmember Michael Driscoll, chair of the Transportation Committee, has introduced legislation on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson to authorize the deal, with a vote scheduled for June. If approved, Philadelphia would become the first U.S. city to pursue city-wide curbside Level 2 charging at this scale.
Highlights
- Up to 1,000 Level 2 chargers planned across all 18 Philadelphia planning districts under an exclusive license to it’s electric
- More than 60 percent of Philadelphia households lack off-street parking, according to figures cited in the announcement
- City Council vote on enabling legislation expected in June 2026, with first chargers scheduled to go live in early 2027
- Philadelphia becomes it’s electric’s first major municipal concession agreement, expanding the company’s footprint beyond seven existing U.S. cities
Exclusive License and Deployment Footprint
The agreement grants it’s electric an exclusive license to install and operate curbside Level 2 chargers on Philadelphia streets. Coverage is planned across all 18 city planning districts, with priority sites selected based on rideshare driver density, gaps in existing public charging, and alignment with environmental justice communities. The company says this approach is intended to ensure underserved neighborhoods are included from the start of deployment rather than after the network matures.
Site selection also draws on communities designated under Philadelphia’s Climate Action Playbook and on it’s electric’s existing local waitlist of residents who have already requested chargers on their blocks.
Why Curbside Matters in Philadelphia
According to figures cited in the announcement, more than 60 percent of Philadelphia households lack access to off-street parking. For those residents, home charging in a private garage or driveway is not an option, which the company argues makes curbside infrastructure a prerequisite for EV adoption rather than a supplementary convenience.
The company’s hardware is designed to draw power from existing building electrical service or utility poles, rather than requiring new dedicated grid connections. It’s electric says this “behind-the-meter” approach reduces interconnection delays and avoids costly grid upgrades, allowing faster deployment timelines. The first segment of Philadelphia chargers is scheduled to go live in early 2027.
Executive Comment
“Philly is exactly the kind of city where curbside charging isn’t a nice-to-have: it’s the only way most residents will ever be able to own an electric vehicle,” said Nathan King, Co-Founder and CEO of it’s electric. “The City’s vision and their City Council’s leadership have provided the foundation to build the most ambitious urban charging network in the country. As a company of urbanists who are deeply dedicated to the future of cities, we’re immensely proud to be part of this endeavor.”
Company Footprint
It’s electric is currently deployed curbside in seven U.S. cities, including a recent 90-port expansion in Los Angeles with LADOT and an earlier building-powered pilot in Detroit. The company describes the Philadelphia agreement as its first major municipal concession deal. Building owners and drivers can join the company’s waitlist at itselectric.us/join.
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