Ava Charge Program Update
JP Ross | April 1, 2026
Ava Charge Program Background
• Ava Charge is a program to deliver reliable, publicly accessible and affordable fast charging, with a focus on developing sites near multi-family housing hotspots and retail amenities • Ava works with City partners to identify lots and garages and signs site license agreements that will be good candidates for Ava Charge sites, including having enough parking spaced to support dedicated EV charging and access to electrical capacity • Ava controls customer pricing and is responsible for marketing Ava Charge to EV drivers.
• Ava takes utilization risk and plans to allocate ~$3M/year to this program over 10 years. Ava has allocated $17.35M in Local Development funding for this work starting in 2021.
2 Ava Charge Delivery Model
• Ava developed a contract structure for asset owners to develop, own, and operate EV fast chargers on our behalf. The contract requires the asset owners to take on development, technology, and operational risks and be paid based on EV charging capacity and ongoing performance; similar to a battery tolling agreement.
• Tolling parties develop and operate sites, and agree to maintaining chargers at agreed to service levels and availability
o Benefits are that Ava uses 3rd party balance sheet to underwrite the technology risk, while Ava takes the utilization risk
• After a competitive solicitation process, in November 2022, the Board Authorized Ava to negotiate and execute agreements with two counterparties; EV Realty (EVR) and Calibrant Energy (Calibrant) to develop, own, and operate fast charging sites for Ava.
o Ava intentionally selected two tolling partners due to the immaturity of the market and to ensure continued competitive negotiations for our first of its kind EV tolling agreement.
• Ava executed agreements with both parties and EVR is currently operating the first Ava Charge site at Oakland City Center West Garage 3 Ava Charge - OCCWG
• EVR is currently operating the Ava Charge site at
Oakland City Center West Garage
• Largest non-Tesla public fast charging site in Northern California, with 31 high-capacity charging ports for all light duty vehicles (including NACS, CCS1, CHAdeMO
connectors)
• Site is operating above 97% availability with 1,609
charging sessions delivered
• Ava hosted a ribbon cutting on 11/19/2025.
4 Ava Charge Delivery Status
• Ava has executed a contract with Calibrant to develop four Ava Charge sites that are currently ready for construction in Oakland, Livermore and Piedmont; with PG&E electrical capacity reserved, approved permits, and hardware ready to install
• Calibrant has notified Ava of their intention to shift their business model away from operating EV assets after organizational restructuring following a merger/acquisition and informed Ava of their interest to transition the portfolio of Ava Charge sites • Ava has secured PG&E capacity for an additional eight sites across four additional cities and has agreed to a conceptual design with City staff
• Ava has informed City staff that we expect delays with the additional sites based on Calibrant’s intent to transfer these sites to a different developer
5 Development Options to Proceed with Ava Charge
1. Ava is currently working with Calibrant and EVR to shift Calibrant's projects to EVR
2. Staff is also evaluating options to internally develop, own, and operate Ava Charge assets as an alternative model
▪ Developing the Critical Municipal Facility sites, which are on track for final inspection in April 2026, has increased Ava's ability to develop assets
▪ Ava has developed more internal resources to manage asset development and ownership, as well as manage the Public Works procurement process, should we decide that direct ownership is the best solution for Ava Charge.
▪ Expertise, bandwidth, and financial risk require further consideration and discussion with the board if pursued
3. Future RFP for additional site development and third party ownership alternatives
6 Next Steps
• Staff is working with EVR and Calibrant to evaluate shifting projects to EVR. This process is expected to take 8-10 weeks, and staff will update the Board as discussion progress and construction schedules are further established
• Staff will continue to evaluate other development & ownership options and provide a recommendation to the Board on our approach for future Ava Charge sites
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