Electric Vehicles Meet the Street Lamppost: A New Solution for Urban EV Charging
With the rising popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), the need for accessible charging infrastructure in urban areas has become more pressing. While EV owners who live in single-family homes with garages or driveways have the luxury of easily charging their vehicles at home, those living in urban areas without access to private charging facilities face significant challenges. In this article, we will explore the innovative solution provided by Voltpost, a startup from New York City, which aims to make curbside charging seamless by retrofitting existing street lampposts with EV charging capabilities.
The Challenges of Urban EV Charging
Urban EV owners often face difficulties in finding convenient and safe charging options for their vehicles. Without access to a garage or driveway, many rely on public fast chargers or resort to running extension cords from their homes to the curb, which can pose safety hazards. While some cities have implemented permit programs to allow for the installation of temporary curbside charging solutions, these measures are often not sustainable in the long term.
The Potential of Street Lamppost Charging
Street lampposts present a promising solution to the challenge of urban EV charging. With a vast network of lampposts already in place throughout cities, retrofitting them with EV charging capabilities could provide a convenient and widespread charging infrastructure for EV owners. Voltpost has developed a product that covers the lower part of the lamppost to house all the necessary electronics and cables for providing AC Level 2 charging to multiple EVs simultaneously.
The Voltpost Lamppost Charger
Voltpost’s lamppost charger is designed to be easily installed on existing street lampposts, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution for expanding urban EV charging infrastructure. The charger docks at hand-level on the lamppost shroud, with a retractable cable that includes an anchor eight feet off the ground to prevent it from dragging. The modular design of the charger makes maintenance and upgrades simple, and charge station managers have access to custom software for monitoring and controlling pricing remotely.
The User Experience
For EV drivers, using the Voltpost charger is a seamless experience. An accompanying app allows drivers to oversee charging sessions, make payments, and even reserve chargers in advance. This feature could help alleviate potential conflicts over charging spots among neighbors and ensure that drivers have access to charging when they need it. The ability to top off overnight with AC Level 2 charging is sufficient for most drivers’ daily needs.
Deployment and Expansion
Voltpost has already conducted successful installations and tests of its lamppost chargers in collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation. The company has projects in various stages of development and deployment in cities like New York, Chicago, and Detroit, indicating a growing interest in expanding urban EV charging infrastructure. With a recent $3.6 million seed round of funding, Voltpost is poised to continue innovating and leading the way in making EV charging more accessible in urban areas.
Conclusion
The integration of EV charging capabilities into street lampposts represents a promising solution to the challenges of urban EV charging. With its innovative design, ease of installation, and user-friendly features, Voltpost’s lamppost charger could help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in cities and provide EV owners with a convenient and reliable charging option. By leveraging existing infrastructure and implementing smart technologies, Voltpost is paving the way for a future where urban EV charging is accessible to all.