Voltpost, a developer of lamppost EV systems, has announced the commercial availability of its new curbside EV charging solution.
The company is developing and deploying EV charging projects in several metro areas across the U.S., including New York, Chicago, and Detroit in spring 2024. Aiming to decarbonize mobility by democratizing charging access, the company retrofits lampposts into a modular, upgradable, Level 2 EV charging platform powered by a mobile app. This platform works to provide convenient and affordable charging, while reducing the install cost and time, maintenance, and footprint of chargers for communities.
While designed to serve any EV, the lamppost more directly targets urban EV drivers living in multi-unit housing who may lack dedicated parking spaces and struggle to charge an EV near their home. Voltpost is able to install its chargers in less than two hours at a reduced cost with no construction, trenching, or extensive permitting processes. In reducing the complexity of this installation, the company aims to expand the reach of EV charging to underserved communities, high-density areas, and other areas with low charging infrastructure.
Among the charger’s key features are an integrated retractable cable management system that maximizes uptime while lowering operating and maintenance costs. This system has 20 feet of cable, ensuring convenient access to any part of the vehicle. A flexible, adaptive design facilitates various use cases and environments, accommodating either two or four charging ports.
A proprietary ChargePlug with a pulsing light routes the cable at a 90-degree angle to the car socket, ensuring it does not present a hazard to adjacent traffic and pedestrians, while a modular platform design allows for quick and easy exchanges and upgrades. This design maximizes uptime, reduces operating and maintenance costs, and supports smart city services including connectivity and grid services.
A complementary mobile app from Voltpost enables users to manage charging events. Here, they can access a detailed map that includes a range of features – allowing users to see charger availability, make reservations, track charging events, pay based on electricity consumed, and gain insights on financial and environmental savings. A dedicated Charge Station Management System (CSMS) more broadly provides charging analytics for public and private stakeholders. At the same time, this system enables site hosts to set charger features (such as pricing) and remotely monitor their chargers.
