City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 16, 2026 FROM: GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: WAIVE FORMAL PROCUREMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH PURCHASING RESOLUTION 24101 AND APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF UP TO 45 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS FROM CHAEVI CO., LTD, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,957,500; AND AUTHORIZE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,957,500 FROM THE GENERAL FUND INFRASTRUCTURE RESERVE TO BE REIMBURSED BY A REBATE FROM RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD FUNDS – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Waive formal procurement in accordance with Purchasing Resolution 24101 and approve the purchase of up to 45 electric vehicle chargers from Chaevi Co., Ltd, of Riverside, California, in the amount of $1,957,500; and authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $1,957,500 from the General Fund Infrastructure Reserve Account to be reimbursed by a rebate from Riverside Public Utilities Low Carbon Fuel Standard Funds following acquisition of the chargers.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
By at least five affirmative votes, waive formal procurement in accordance with Purchasing Resolution 24101, Section 602(k), and approve the purchase of up to 45 electric vehicle chargers from Chaevi Co., Ltd., in the amount of $1,957,500; By at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record a supplemental appropriation and interfund transfer in the amount of $1,957,500 from the General Fund Infrastructure Reserve Account to the Capital Outlay Fund, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Project revenue and expenditure accounts; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any purchase orders, agreements, and other documents to effectuate the purchase of the electric vehicle chargers, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
Economic Development Memorandum of Understanding
On November 4, 2025, the City Council approved a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chaevi Co., Ltd., a Korean-based electric vehicle charging solution company to meet the needs of the City’s sustainability goals of expanding local EV access and attracting foreign direct investment aligned with economic and environmental objectives for collaboration on economic development. Per the MOU, the City committed to present approval for the purchase of no less than 45 Chaevi EV chargers to the City Council for consideration.
Riverside Public Utilities Rebate Program
In 2018, Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) opted into the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program, which allows RPU to earn credits for the residential charging of electric vehicles (EVs). The proceeds from these credits must be used to benefit current and future EV users. Since 2021, RPU has implemented several rebates and programs to benefit RPU customers. On April 27, 2026, the Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve an additional $3 million for the EV Charger Installation at Public Facilities Program bringing the total for the program to $3.5 million. The program provides funding for rebates to assist with the purchase of City-owned EV chargers and to assist with the costs associated with infrastructure upgrades. Incentives for the purchase of EV chargers and utility infrastructure upgrades are allowable expenses under the LCFS Program regulations. The EV Charger Installation at Public Facilities is funded from RPU’s “Electric Fund Low Carbon Fuel Cash Reserve” account for a total of $3,500,000 for FY2025/26 with approval to carry unspent funds to future years.
DISCUSSION:
Rebate Eligibility
To support this economic development effort, RPU concluded that the purchase of 45 Chaevi EV chargers is an eligible expenditure for rebate under the LCFS program. At the time of this report and based on the City’s potential installation locations, RPU has determined that a rebate covering the initial cost of procuring the Chaevi EV chargers is an allowable use of the LCFS funds. The City is required to install the EV chargers within three years of the purchase date to qualify for this rebate and the rebate will be issued upon the commissioning of the EV chargers. Additionally, a portion of the required utility infrastructure costs are allowable per state regulations.
Based on preliminary estimates, available LCFS funds, and rules of the program, RPU has determined that it can rebate the City for the acquisition cost of the Chaevi EV chargers, upon commissioning of each EV charger. The remaining LCFS funds in the rebate program could potentially be used for a future rebate to fund a portion of the utility infrastructure costs, depending on whether the ultimate installation locations contribute to the expansion of RPU’s existing Electrify Riverside City Facility Publicly Available EV Charger Installation Program.
There are other costs associated with the City’s MOU commitment related to the Chaevi EV chargers that RPU’s programs are not allowed to fund, such as site improvements, permitting, and utility coordination. These costs will be calculated and used to pursue grants and/or close the funding gap to install the chargers and bring them into service.
Potential EV Charger Installation Locations
With acquisition funding identified, the City team evaluated publicly accessible locations suitable for Chaevi’s Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) chargers. DCFC chargers, also known as Level 3 chargers or DC fast chargers, provide charging in minutes and are ideal for publicly accessible locations where rapid turnaround is critical.
The following City-owned locations have been identified and are listed in order of suggested installation. These are early recommendations which may adjust as engineering is completed for each location. #
Site
# of Existing Chargers*
Maximum # of Chargers Site Can Support
1 Casa Blanca Library/Customer Resource Center
1 7
2 New Eastside Library
0 3
3 Orange Terrace Community Park
1 4
4 City Parking Garage 7 (Fox Entertainment Plaza)
2 5
5 City Corporation Yard Public Fuel Island
1 3
6 Riverside Convention Center
1 10
7 City Hall garage
2 5
8 City Hall surface parking lot
(located behind the lobby)
1 11
9 Museum of Riverside (Parking lot 16)
0 10
10 Riverside Airport (north parking lot)
1 16
Total
10 74
*Number of existing chargers at each location as of this report On April 21, 2026, City staff met with County of Riverside Facilities Management personnel to discuss the County’s electric vehicle infrastructure program and how Chaevi Co., LTD, can support those goals. Through a 2022 California Energy Commission grant, the County installed three Direct Current Fast Chargers and 42 Level 2 chargers at various County facilities. With increased local and regional demand, the County’s electric vehicle charging network is expected to expand. The County has identified the need to deploy Corridor Stations located within one mile of a major freeway to serve motorists using both the local roads and regional highway network. These stations would be equipped with Direct Current Fast Charger units to quickly meet charging demand and maximize turnover, allowing service to the greatest number of motorists. Chaevi offers Level 3 units rated at 180kW and 400kW that can help meet these needs, and the meeting encouraged the County of Riverside to consider Chaevi for both future installations and upgrades to the existing units.
Next Steps
The above locations require off-site and on-site infrastructure and service upgrades. RPU Engineering conducted a high-level analysis of off-site infrastructure needs and estimates a range for off-site infrastructure improvements is between $5 million and $12 million across the locations listed above. The General Services Department is currently working with Purchasing to prepare an RFP for professional engineering services for on-site design work. These engineering services will identify the infrastructure improvements needed within each location, including site improvements such as parking lot reconfigurations and landscape improvements. Accuracy of cost estimation will increase with more detailed engineering. Engineering will also increase the City’s competitiveness for grant funding opportunities as the locations will be “shovel ready.” As noted elsewhere in this report, LCFS funds could potentially be used for a future rebate to fund a portion of utility infrastructure construction, dependent upon whether the ultimate installation locations contribute to the expansion of RPU’s existing Electrify Riverside City Facility Publicly Available EV Charger Installation Program.
As funding permits, the City will likely be positioned to start installing the chargers in 2028, following engineering, permitting, and construction of infrastructure upgrades.
Costs associated with infrastructure and service upgrades, operations and maintenance, warranties, and profit-sharing will be brought back to City Council with bid/RFP awards for contracts associated with that work, in accordance with City procurement requirements.
The City will have three years from the date of the purchase order to commission the chargers to be eligible for RPU’s rebate program.
Next steps toward this deadline:
Issue an RFP for a professional engineering firm to design the infrastructure upgrades required for each location (e.g. electrical needs, parking lot reconfigurations).
City receives engineering services for selected locations, including plan check and permitting.
Bid and award infrastructure construction.
Where funding is not available for infrastructure, seek grant funding using engineered drawings to indicate shovel-ready status.
Purchasing Overview
Chaevi Co., Ltd., submitted a commercial invoice and total cost proposal #INV-2026-RC-001 dated April 15, 2026. The proposal lists a unit price of $40,000 for 45 units, totaling $1,800,000. Sales tax was not listed as part of the proposal, however, the City of Riverside is responsible for independently verifying all applicable tax and fee obligations prior to executing a purchase order. The City of Riverside has a tax rate of 8.75% ($157,500), bringing the total purchase amount to $1,957,500.
This action is pursuant to Purchasing Resolution 24101, Section 602(k) which states, "Competitive Procurement through the Informal Procurement and Formal Procurement process shall not be required in any of the following circumstances: ... (k) When the Awarding Entity waives bidding requirements under and according to the circumstances set forth in Section 1109 of the City Charter, or when it is determined by the Manager to be in the best interests of the City to do so.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommended action is compliant with Purchasing Resolution 24101.
The RPU General Manager concurs with this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the purchase of up to 45 EV chargers from Chaevi is $1,957,500, with sales tax. Upon City Council approval, a supplemental appropriation will be recorded as shown in the table below.
Fund
Project
Account
Amount
Transfers
General Fund
Infrastructure Reserve
0000101-299206
($1,957,500)
Infrastructure Reserve Transfer Out
7223600-990401
$1,957,500
Capital Outlay
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Revenue
9935300-985101
$1,957,500
Expenditures
9935300-462200
$1,957,500
This purchase cost is eligible for the RPU rebate program if the chargers are installed within three years of the date of the purchase order.
Costs associated with utility infrastructure and service upgrades will be brought back to City Council with bid/RFP awards for contracts associated with that work, in accordance with City procurement requirements.
Approved by: Lee Withers, General Services Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/ City Treasurer Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Quotation
MOU
Presentation
Purchase of EV Chargers from Chaevi Co., Ltd. ● Page 2