Stand alone solar EV charging

Over at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, they have free municipal EV charging. It’s not particularly fast (I think it’s reported as being something like 4.2 kW, shared, but in practice I see 3.77 kW when charging alone, or 1.86 kW when split - which is basically L1 charging), but it’s free, and the system is kinda kick ass.

Solterra connected to a Santa Monica supplied EV ARC solar charger

It’s up to 4 hours free per day, with a $1.00/minute “overstay charge” if you go beyond that. It’s administered by ChargePoint. And the EV ARC (Autonomous Renewable Charger) hardware is courtesy Envision Solar, who claims to be using a “patented sun tracker” (presumably this patent?).

A large sign reads:

EV ARC™ 

A truly zero emissions solution 

The EV ARC™ is the world’s only transportable, solar powered electric vehicle charging product. The system is completely grid independent. The patented EnvisionTrak™ sun tracking technology enables the EV ARC™ to make up to 25% more electricity than fixed solar arrays. It can be utilized day or night, rain or shine because of teh unit’s on-board battery storage. Our technology provides 100% clean renewable electricity, allowing you to drive on nothing but sunshine. 

This system reduces carbon emissions by 100%. The system provides a source of clean onsite renewable energy and supports the City’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

The sign, and the charger, are provided by the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment: smgov.net/energysmgov.net/energy

Another blurb notes: “This charging station is powered exclusively by solar power and battery storage. The station will not work when battery storage is below 20%. To check battery status or report an issue, please text ...”

Very cool. Bonus, the solar panel (which, at a guess, is about 10'x20'), can provide some shade for the car while charging.

According to materials supplied to San Diego (which includes pricing, spec sheets, options, etc), at least as of 2016, an EV ARC 4 like I’m pretty sure Santa Monica has (4.1 kW array, delivering ~3.3-3.8 kW to an EV, exactly what I was seeing), was about a $65,000 purchase, shipped.

Pretty f’in cool.

The underside of the Envision Solar EV ARC

Now they need to install some charging infrastructure for the electric airplanes that are flying there!