SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica ordered the company Waymo, which makes driverless cars and taxis, to shut down its charging stations following complaints from residents. A lawsuit was filed by Waymo against the city of Santa Monica on Tuesday, December 23 in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit claims that the two charging stations, which are located and operated throughout the day, are not a public nuisance. In addition, Waymo claims that it faces imminent and irreparable harm to its operations and that its employees and customers will also be harmed.
Waymo claims that the permits granted to it by the city of Santa Monica in October 2023 to operate the charging stations also authorized 24-hour charging operations. In addition, Voltera Power LLC, the company that operates the charging stations for Waymo, informed the city of Santa Monica they intended to run the stations all day once they completed the permits and that either cleaning or vehicle maintenance would occur at the stations.
Waymo notes that the city of Santa Monica’s actions violates California Government Code Section 65850.7, which not only encourages the use of electric vehicle charging stations but also seeks to limit obstacles to their operation.
The dispute between the city of Santa Monica and Waymo stems from residents’ complaints about noise from charging stations, vehicle movement, and the traffic congestion these vehicles create. Waymo is seeking relief from the city’s actions.
Waymo is requesting that the court rule that the overnight operations are authorized by the file permit, that the operation of the charging stations does not constitute a public nuisance, and that the city cannot enforce its shutdown demands. Waymo is asking the court to grant both preliminary and permanent injunctions that will prevent the city from interfering with its operations.
