Solar Powered EV Charging Stations Now Available In SF
This Article Originally Appeared On CNET
In a demonstration project, San Francisco unveiled three installations of an off-the-grid solar-powered charging station, allowing electric vehicle owners to pull up and charge for free.
Electric vehicle proponents cite the cars’ zero tailpipe emissions and extremely efficient use of energy, while critics often point out how coal-fired power plants generate electricity used to charge electric cars. A few days ago, San Francisco unveiled a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station to counter the critics’ argument and highlight the fact that electricity can come from a variety of sources.
An organization called Charge Across Town secured a grant from the 11th Hour Project to set up three solar-powered charging stations in various locations around San Francisco: The Stonestown Galleria Mall parking lot, the public parking lot at Embarcadero and Green Street, and a City CarShare lot at 17th and Shotwell Streets. Electric car owners will be able to plug in for free Level 2 charging, which adds about 10 miles of range per hour.
The charging stations, provided by San Diego-based Envision Solar, are self-contained and require no connection to local utilities, drawing all their power needs from their own array of solar panels.
Envision Solar CEO Desmond Wheatley told CNET that the solar panels used are among the most efficient available, with solar energy conversion in the “high teens.” Each station generates 3.3 kilowatts of electricity and includes a lithium-ion battery pack module that stores 22.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Wheatley said the amount of electricity generated by the stations per day was good for 100 electric vehicle miles.
The solar arrays on the stations follow the sun to maximize energy collection. Each station is self-contained and sits on what Wheatley called a Ballast Traction Pad, a heavy plate that serves as the station’s base and the parking spot for electric vehicles. Installation merely involves setting one of the stations down in a suitable area, with the Ballast Traction Pad providing enough weight to hold the entire station down in up to 120 mph winds.
These innovative setups not only highlight the advancement in solar energy utilization but also emphasize the growing importance of infrastructure for electric vehicles. For businesses looking to support the shift to electric mobility, investing in commercial EV installation is becoming increasingly vital. These installations provide convenient and sustainable charging options, enhancing the appeal of EVs and supporting a greener future.
Envision Solar sells the charging stations for $45,000 each, although Wheatley pointed out that government incentives can knock 30 percent off the price.
The San Francisco stations will be in place through 2015.
