The Future is Now: Charge Your EV Anywhere Using Street Lamp Posts!
Imagine a future where electric vehicle (EV) owners never have to worry about finding a charging station or dealing with the inconvenience of long cables and safety hazards. Well, that future might be closer than you think, thanks to the innovative efforts of a New York City-based startup, Voltpost. This company is revolutionizing the way EVs are charged by transforming the humble street lamp post into a cutting-edge charging point. In this article, we will explore how Voltpost is making urban EV ownership more accessible and convenient than ever before.
An Urban EV Owner's Dilemma
Living in a big city with an EV but no personal garage or driveway presents unique challenges. The typical solutions range from depending on public fast chargers to running perilous cable setups from homes to the curb. Cities like Cambridge, Massachusetts, have begun issuing permits for sidewalk-friendly cable protectors, but these are mere band-aids to a broader issue.
Lampposts: The Unsung Heroes of Urban EV Charging
Enter the everyday lamppost: a beacon of light and, potentially, the perfect solution to urban EV charging predicaments. With their ubiquitous presence and built-in electrical infrastructure, lampposts are ideal candidates for retrofitting with EV charging capabilities. Voltpost seized upon this concept, dedicating over a year to designing and developing a product that can seamlessly convert any street lamp into an EV charging station.
Introducing the Voltpost Charger
Voltpost's innovative device encapsulates the lower portion of a lamppost, housing all the necessary electronics and cables to provide AC Level 2 charging for two to four EVs simultaneously. While it may not offer the speed of fast-charging stations, it's more than sufficient for an overnight energy top-off. The design features a user-friendly charger dock at arm's reach, with retractable cables that maintain sidewalk cleanliness and safety. Additionally, its modular nature facilitates easy repairs and upgrades, highlighting the system's future-proof potential.
Smart Charging Made Simple
Beyond the hardware, Voltpost offers a custom software suite for charge station managers, enabling them to set pricing and monitor the stations remotely. For EV drivers, Voltpost provides a seamless app experience, allowing users to manage their charging sessions and even reserve chargers ahead of time - a modern solution to the age-old problem of parking spot ‘dibs’.
Speedy Installation and Expansion Plans
The efficiency of Voltpost's system is not just in charging. Its installation process is remarkably swift, requiring as little as an hour to set up a new charging point in collaboration with city authorities. With successful test installations in New York and projects underway in Chicago and Detroit, Voltpost is on the fast track to expanding its network. Bolstered by a recent $3.6 million seed funding round, the startup's vision for a more charging-accessible future is rapidly becoming a reality.
Charging Toward a Greener Future
Voltpost's approach to integrating EV charging into the fabric of urban infrastructure represents a significant leap forward in making EV ownership viable and appealing for city dwellers. By leveraging existing lampposts, the company not only addresses the practical concerns of charging availability and safety but also propels us toward a cleaner, more sustainable urban living model. As more cities adopt Voltpost's innovative solution, the dream of waking up every morning in a world where your EV is always charged and ready to go is within reach, no matter where you live.