Engineers deploy off-grid solar tracking technology to power electric vehicle charging stations – see how it could transform the electric car industry
A new solar-powered electric vehicle charger installed at Dartmouth College is helping propel us toward a cleaner, healthier future, according to Electrek.
This innovative off-grid charging station, designed by Solaflect Energy, is powering university employees’ electric vehicles while demonstrating the immense potential of solar energy.
Transportation is one of the main sources of pollution that is overheating our planet. As more people drive electric vehicles to reduce pollution, we will need to recharge ourselves with electricity generated from clean, renewable sources like the sun.
That’s where this solar EV charger comes in.
The system’s four Level 2 charging ports are powered by a 6.2-kilowatt solar panel mounted on a dual-axis tracker, Electrek details. By following the sun’s movement throughout the day, the tracker collects 40% more solar energy than standard fixed panels. All that extra sunlight means more clean energy for electric vehicles.
While typical electric vehicle charging stations require expensive infrastructure and a grid connection, the Solaflect charger is 100% off-grid – no digging, no grid wiring, and no expensive demand for electricity from the grid.
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The concrete base sits right on the parking lot lines, so no spaces are sacrificed, according to Electrek. The array’s weather-resistant design helps remove snow, take refuge during high winds, and stay high and dry in floods. It will continue producing clean energy even if the grid goes down.
“This solar charger for electric vehicles is part of the college’s efforts to make our [transportation systems] more sustainable,” said Marcus Welker, assistant director of sustainability at Dartmouth College, per Electrek.
Over its 25-year lifespan, one of Solaflect’s transportable stations can provide one million kilometers of solar-powered driving with minimal operation and maintenance costs, according to company claims cited by the media outlet. As adoption of electric vehicles grows, the flexible design allows the college to easily increase or relocate chargers to meet transportation demand.
By harnessing the sun’s abundant energy, Solaflect’s innovation enables electric vehicles to be driven on truly clean energy. This reduces pollution from dirty gases that harm our health and overheat our planet.
The company plans to expand to offer its solar EV charger for lease or purchase in the U.S. after initial launches in New England.
So the next time you see a solar panel silently tracking the sun across a parking lot, think about all the electric vehicles it could power with 100% renewable energy. Homemade solar solutions like this are helping put us on the path to a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.
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