Description:

Introduction: Lamppost electric vehicle charging solution comprise hardware and electrical integrations to create physical charge points for on-street lamppost integration. Companies like Ubitricity in Germany and char,gy in UK has developed a convenient way to charge electric vehicles with a minimal amount of fuss. Existing city street lamps can be converted into charging stations. 

The lamppost-mounted solution allows EV users to easily charge their vehicles with a standard cable in their neighbourhood. The charge point blends seamlessly into the cityscape, keeps pavements clear and adds another benefit to existing infrastructure. 

Advantages: As the installation of the EV lamppost charge point does not require any groundwork, cities and municipalities benefit from quick planning, low investment costs and rapid initial operation. Compared to larger charging stations, the energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for the installation processes are also significantly lower.

For cities, authorities & municipalities:

• Space-saving, no extra street furniture
• Quickly plannable & highly scalable
• Fast installation
• Low investment & operating costs
• Fully standard-compliant
• Grid-friendly
• Simple to relocate if necessary

For EV drivers:

• Charging point for drivers without a private parking space
• Charging while the EV is parked anyway
• Usable with type 2 standard cable
• Also accessible without subscription
• Variety of payment options
• Charging at illuminated spaces

Process: The lamp post needs to be sited close to the kerb and not set back on the pavement. The lamppost chargers typically operate at 5.5kW. Beginning with a focus on hardware and electrical integrations, the concepts were prototyped for connecting power supplies with EVs, working towards similar power supplies to those available through on-street lampposts. Installing directly onto lampposts through secure bolting, and no requirement to dig up pathways, the charge points were designed to provide charging capabilities. 

Commercialization: In Germany, Siemens and ubitricity have converted over 1,300 lampposts in London to provide on-street charging.

In UK, Char.gy identified existing on-street lampposts as a potential way for residents to charge an electric vehicle at home and aligned with the Government’s ‘Road to Zero’ strategy to lead the world in zero-emission vehicle technology.