Half a century ago, the General Motors assembly plant was the largest employer in Fremont, California, and the town was known for its dragstrip.
Today, that plant makes Tesla electric cars and Fremont is a part of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Silicon Valley, creating advanced technology for the world.
Tesla Factory, Fremont, California
The city has now taken another step into the future, requiring that all new houses be delivered ready for the installation of electric-car charging stations.
According to the East Bay Times, the city of Fremont has announced that any new housing project must include both solar panels and the electrical wiring required for the installation of a charging station.
The town, across the bay from Palo Alto—where a similar regulation was adopted in 2013—prides itself on being the ZIP Code with the highest concentration of electric-car owners in the state.
That makes it likely to have the highest such concentration in the U.S.
First 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Buyers, Fremont, California: Bobby Edmonds, Bill Mattos and Steve Henry
When the first 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars were sold in December, Fremont Chevrolet was the site—because it sells more Chevy Volt plug-in hybrids than any other dealer in the country.
It’s exactly 3 miles from the dealer to the Tesla factory, formerly the GM-Toyota joint venture known as New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. or NUMMI.
The required coverage of the solar panels will be determined by the size of the new project.
EVgo DC Fast-Charging Site in Fremont, California.
As for the charging stations, the wall hardware itself will not be mandatory.
New buildings will, however, have to be equipped with the electrical setup needed for later installation.
For commercial or multifamily projects, the ruling goes even further, requiring that at least 10 percent of the parking spaces have charging stations installed
Read more: Green Car Reports