A California-based company aims to add curbside EV charging and solar and wind energy to power street lights.
BeamSpot by Beam Global combines solar panels and small wind turbines to generate some of its own power, with built-in battery storage to maximize its use. While conventional streetlights typically only have enough power to provide illumination, renewable energy additions provide power for EV charging “which makes sense,” Beam Global said.
At 40 feet tall (30 feet without the wind option), the BeamSpot street light charger can generate 1 kw each from solar and wind if both are specified. Battery capacity is 15 kwh. Beam Global claims Charging capacity up to 5.76 kwIn total, the company estimates BeamSpot can add 220 miles of range after a day of charging.
Beam Global claims BeamSpot can be installed in Existing street light foundation while avoiding the more complicated construction and permitting processes of conventional EV chargers. That could allow for faster expansion of EV charging infrastructure in urban areas without taking up valuable sidewalk space—all while Provide apartment residents with a place to charge.
Proposed streetlight charging station for Kansas City (via Kansas City MEC)
Several cities in the United States have shown interest in streetlight EV chargers, to varying degrees. Two companies—AmpUp and EVSE—recently announced that they have been contracted by the Los Angeles Department of Street Lighting to add 150 chargers to streetlight poles in the city. It’s part of the mayor’s goal to add more 10,000 street light EV chargers throughout the City of Angels.
Seattle announced plans to install curbside EV chargers in 2022, although on request only. Kansas City and New York began testing the concept in 2021, and New York reported high adoption rates.
