Voltpost aims to introduce curbside EV charging to lampposts in your area
Owning a single-family home and driving an electric vehicle can be a transformative experience. Each morning, as you wake up to a world brimming with possibilities, your car awaits, fully charged and primed to transport you wherever you desire.
However, for those without access to a garage or driveway, the EV lifestyle presents challenges.
In bustling urban centers, many EV owners must rely on public fast chargers. Some resort to running cables from their homes to the curb, a practice that poses safety risks. Certain cities, such as Cambridge, Massachusetts, have formalized this approach, permitting the installation of wheelchair-friendly cable protectors spanning the sidewalk. While this initiative mimics the convenience enjoyed by single-family homeowners, it remains a temporary fix, at best.
Perhaps the humble lamppost offers a more promising solution. Ubiquitous and already wired, lampposts present an opportunity for seamless curbside charging. One New York City-based startup, Voltpost, has spent a year developing a product that retrofits existing street lampposts for EV charging. Recently unveiled, their lamppost charger is a shroud covering the lower section of the pole, housing all necessary electronics and cables to charge two to four EVs at Level 2 speeds. While not rapid charging, it provides ample power for most users to replenish their vehicles overnight.
Voltpost’s charger docks at hand level on the lamppost shroud, featuring a retractable cable with an anchor positioned eight feet above ground level to prevent it from touching the ground. The design emphasizes modularity, facilitating easier repairs and upgrades, according to the company. Charge station managers are provided access to bespoke software, enabling them to regulate pricing and remotely monitor the devices.
Like most EV charger networks, an accompanying app allows users to oversee charging sessions and make payments. Additionally, drivers can utilize the app to reserve chargers, introducing a novel twist akin to “dibs” or “savesies” that may offer convenience to drivers while potentially causing friction among neighbors.
Voltpost asserts that its chargers are swiftly installed, citing an hour-long completion time in a trial conducted with the New York City Department of Transportation. The company also reports ongoing projects at various stages of development and deployment in New York, Chicago, and Detroit. Notably, the startup recently secured a $3.6 million seed round in July.
