While the number of electric vehicles is rapidly increasing worldwide, charging infrastructure remains a significant challenge for drivers living in urban centers. Owners of vehicles living in apartments, in particular, struggle to find charging facilities at home.
Streetlights are becoming charging stations
While installing charging units in apartment garages is technically feasible, in practice, disputes with apartment management, low user numbers, and common expense disputes often slow down this process. This situation forces many drivers to park their vehicles on the side of the street.
US-based company Voltpost is attracting attention with a system it has developed to solve this problem. Voltpost’s system transforms existing streetlight poles into charging stations. This conversion takes place without taking up additional sidewalk space, thanks to charging modules installed beneath the poles.
The company launched its first commercial application in Oak Park, Detroit, Michigan. This installation was noted as one of the first steps toward the state’s goal of 100,000 charging points by 2030.
In Voltpost’s system, streetlight poles are covered with a special casing and transformed into charging stations. These Level 2 devices provide a maximum power output of 7.6 kW, providing a range of approximately 45 kilometers per hour.
This capacity is particularly sufficient for vehicles parked overnight. Even vehicles with large batteries can be fully charged by morning. The relatively slow charging rate eliminates the need to move a vehicle in the middle of the night to make room for another user. The same applies to daytime workplaces; a vehicle left in the morning can be picked up fully charged at the end of the evening shift.
The system’s cable is built into the device and automatically retracts, eliminating the need for users to retrieve cables from trunks or organize them on the street. Multiple sockets can be installed per pole; some poles offer single-charge capacity, while others have dual or quadruple-charge capacity.
The devices are manufactured with high resistance to external factors. Encased in anodized aluminum, the system can operate uninterrupted in temperatures ranging from -40°C to 55°C and in high humidity conditions. It is also protected against impacts and external interference.
A system similar to Voltpost could also be implemented in Turkey. Existing streetlights or roadside parking areas belonging to İSPARK provide suitable grounds for this transformation, especially in densely populated metropolitan areas like Istanbul, where there are high vehicle counts.
