EVs can be exclusionary for folks who don’t have a garage to charge in, but the new curbside chargers that Voltpost and AT&T are collaborating on aim to eliminate that hurdle. The two companies have joined forces to soon begin installing internet-connected lamppost EV chargers in Michigan, specifically in the Metro-Detroit area. Internet connectivity is key to the reliable functionality of chargers so operators know immediately when the charger needs repair. Remarkably, up to four EVs can charge at a single one of these stalls, and the chargers can be installed in a few hours.
So what’s the catch? Voltpost says that charging speeds are limited to Level 2, so no fast charging here. That’s alright for spots where people will be parked for a few hours, though, and the good news keeps coming. These chargers can be installed on preexisting lamp posts in a claimed time of one to two hours, which is an obvious boon. These chargers will likely be an invaluable resource for residents of dense areas who would otherwise be forced to charge at their workplace or gamble with public charging stations that are not conveniently located near their homes. Each charger can be fitted with two or four retractable cables which prevent potential hazards for pedestrians. According to InsideEVs,
Voltpost has already deployed a handful of lamppost EV chargers in New York City and Detroit as part of a couple of pilot projects, but the startup has high expectations: it wants to install tens of thousands of curbside EV chargers by 2030. The first publicly available stalls will go online in the coming months at several sites across Michigan, New York and Illinois.
Some older EVs and some PHEVs aren’t even able to take advantage of DC fast charging speeds anyway, so these easily installed chargers are a smart solution for everyday Americans. Hopefully they prove to be more reliable and consistent than other notoriously buggy public chargers so they can make it easier for more folks to feel comfortable adopting an electrified vehicle.
