In a significant step towards sustainable urban mobility, Detroit is transforming its existing streetlights into crucial electric vehicle charging stations. This innovative approach, spearheaded by companies like Voltpost, promises to rapidly expand EV infrastructure, particularly benefiting city residents without private home charging options. The initiative addresses a critical hurdle in wider EV adoption by utilizing readily available urban assets.
This pioneering project, recently highlighted by Fast Company, sees sites like a parking lot in Dearborn, Michigan, now featuring streetlights that double as EV chargers. The Voltpost Air device, specifically, taps into existing electrical infrastructure, allowing for quick installation in hours rather than days or weeks. Such advancements are vital as metropolitan areas seek to accommodate the growing number of electric vehicles on their roads.
The traditional method of installing EV chargers often involves extensive and costly civil engineering work, including digging up streets and sidewalks to lay new wiring. This new paradigm bypasses many of these logistical and financial burdens, making the deployment of charging points far more efficient and scalable across a dense urban landscape.
Leveraging existing infrastructure for urban EV charging
The core innovation behind these Detroit EV chargers lies in their ability to integrate with the power grid without significant upgrades. Jeff Prosserman, cofounder and CEO of Voltpost, explains that the system avoids expensive utility overhauls by identifying existing power pockets. “We’re just finding pockets where power already exists and then making it work,” he notes. This strategy significantly reduces both the time and cost associated with expanding the EV charging network.
Installation involves checking existing conduits for spare capacity under electrical code, then pulling a single bundled power cable through access points. For areas with overhead power, the cable can simply drop down the pole. This streamlined process eliminates the need to disrupt city streets, a major advantage for urban planning and public convenience. Each streetlight can accommodate multiple charging connectors, providing flexibility and increased capacity.
The strategic advantage of Level 2 streetlight chargers
These new streetlight chargers are predominantly Level 2 units, which offer a slower charging rate compared to DC fast chargers but require less power. This makes them ideal for situations where vehicles are parked for several hours, such as during workdays or overnight. The target demographic includes apartment dwellers and others who lack private garages or easy access to home charging, often relying on public parking.
Drivers can access these chargers using a dedicated app or by tapping a credit card. A key design feature is the self-recoiling charging cable, which extends up to 25 feet and retracts automatically once charging is complete. This mechanism protects the hardware from vandalism and adverse weather conditions, ensuring long-term reliability and reducing maintenance needs. The strategic placement and robust design make these innovative charging solutions a practical fit for urban environments.
The deployment of streetlight EV chargers in Detroit represents a forward-thinking approach to urban infrastructure development. By transforming ubiquitous city assets into essential charging points, Detroit is not only addressing current infrastructure gaps but also laying a scalable foundation for future electric vehicle growth. This model could serve as a blueprint for other cities grappling with similar challenges in the global transition to sustainable transportation.
