The future of sustainable transportation just got a whole lot brighter! San Francisco is leading the charge with an innovative program that showcases the city’s commitment to reducing emissions and promoting eco-friendly travel options.
Imagine driving on sunshine – literally! The “Driving on Sunshine” campaign, a collaboration between the San Francisco Department of the Environment, Envision Solar, and Charge Across Town, has launched solar-powered EV charging stations across the city. These stations are powered by clean energy sources, demonstrating that electric vehicles can charge without relying exclusively on fossil fuels.
Three locations around the city now boast these cutting-edge stations: Stonestown Galleria Mall parking lot, public parking at Embarcadero at Green Street, and 17th and Shotwell Streets at a City CarShare Pod. Each station is equipped with Level 2 charging capabilities, providing EV owners with an extra 10 miles of range for just a one-hour charge. The lithium-ion battery packs can store up to 22.5 kWh of electricity, and according to Envision Solar CEO Desmond Wheatley, the total amount of electricity generated by these stations in a day is enough to power 100 electric vehicle miles.
These portable stations are designed with sustainability in mind. They’re fitted with heavy baseplates that can withstand winds of up to 120 mph, and they even serve as parking spots for the car being recharged. The solar panels move throughout the day to generate as much electricity as possible, making them incredibly efficient.
What’s more, these stations will collect data on usage duration and frequency, which will be analyzed to determine the most frequent use. After that, the stations will be donated to locations with high demand.
The best part? EV owners can charge their vehicles at one of these solar-powered stations for free until June 30! That’s right; driving on sunshine just got a whole lot more accessible and affordable.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee summed it up perfectly: “This innovative program allows the City of San Francisco to demonstrate that electric vehicles can charge from 100% renewable sources, with no impact to the electric grid and with absolutely zero emissions.” This is what the future of sustainable transportation looks like, folks!
Source: https://greenerideal.com/news/vehicles/0528-free-solar-powered-ev-charging-stations-san-francisco
