Arlington Raises EV Charging Fees 72 Percent Starting Nov. 1

ARLINGTON, VA — Electric vehicle drivers will pay 72 percent more to charge at Arlington County-owned stations beginning Nov. 1, after the county board voted to raise fees.

The board approved raising the charging rate from 17.46 cents to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour during its Oct. 20 meeting. The increase affects 51 public charging ports throughout Arlington, including stations at libraries, community centers and recreational facilities.

For a driver purchasing 40 kilowatt-hours of electricity, the cost will increase from about $6.98 to $12, an additional $5.02 per charging session.

County officials said the higher fees are necessary to cover rising electricity prices and recover some of the costs associated with installing and maintaining charging equipment.

Electricity prices under the Virginia Energy Purchasing Governmental Associations contract increased 25 percent systemwide at the beginning of fiscal 2027. Electricity costs for accounts serving Arlington's public EV chargers increased 23 percent.

The new rate also reflects direction from the board's 10-year capital improvement plan, adopted in July, to account for the cost of charging infrastructure.

County staff said the 30-cent rate is comparable to fees at government-owned charging stations in Fairfax and Prince William counties and remains below most commercial charging rates in the region.

Where Arlington's Public EV Chargers Are Located

Arlington operates 51 public charging ports at nine locations:

• Arlington Mill Community Center
• Aurora Hills Community Center
• Central Library
• Courthouse Plaza
• Fairlington Community Center
• Long Bridge Park Aquatic Center
• Lubber Run Community Center
• Madison Community Center
• South Irving Street Group Home

All county-owned public stations use Level 2 chargers, which generally take several hours to fully charge a passenger vehicle.

The county began its public charging program in 2022. Usage has increased as more drivers have adopted electric vehicles.

During the first six months of 2026, charging activity reached approximately 65 percent of the total recorded during all of 2025, putting the program on pace for its busiest year.

Changes To Fees For Vehicles Left At Chargers

The ordinance also changes when drivers can be charged for leaving vehicles parked at charging stations after charging ends.

Arlington currently charges a $3-per-hour fee, capped at $25 per session, beginning 15 minutes after charging ends.

Under the new rules, the fee will apply only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., allowing drivers to leave vehicles at charging stations overnight without accumulating additional fees during those hours.

The County Board also directed staff to review existing charging contracts and negotiate changes intended to eliminate contractor-specific fees beyond those established by the county.

Officials will examine whether charging technology can be updated so the maximum parking-related fee applies on a calendar-day basis rather than across an entire charging session.

Any additional ordinance changes would return to the County Board for consideration.

The new charging rate takes effect Nov. 1.

Drivers can find additional information about county-owned stations, charging fees and locations on Arlington County's public EV charging website.