In a high stakes game of chicken or the egg, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles has hit a temporary, yet significant, road bump. Potential EV buyers often cite the lack of charging infrastructure as a major reason for a “wait and see” hold pattern – and understandably so. Anyone who ventures beyond city limits on roadtrips outside their EV’s range discover finding an open and operable charging station can be frustrating. UK design agency Alloy cites these concerns as the impetus for the design of EVIE, a modern street light paired with an integrated EV charging station with the potential to turn every curbside into a power source.
Currently, most EV owners are members of affluent households with the means and autonomy to install their own electric vehicle charger, significantly relieving concern about keeping their vehicle at the ready. But for EV adoption to reach a wider audience, the automotive industry and energy providers – alongside local and national governments – will have to invest in an EV infrastructure far more egalitarian and ubiquitous than currently available.
Tesla’s Supercharger network is arguably the most successful private effort, with over 27,000 charge ports situated across North America, in conjunction with the growing industry-wide adoption of the company’s NACS charging connector. Other automotive brand’s are also investing in the future of EV charging elsewhere. In comparison there are approximately 160,000 gasoline stations in the United States alone, most with at least four pumps per station, significantly multiplying the amount of gas fueled vehicles that can fill up at once. But what if every curbside parking spot offered the option to recharge electric vehicles?
EVIE’s 360° light ring operates as a street light and a visual beacon for EV drivers seeking a charging station.
Two wide angle cameras integrated into EVIE allow EV owners to check in on their car while parked and charging.
And this brings us back to Alloy’s EVIE street light charging station concept, a design that addresses two public services within a single form, cleverly adapting existing infrastructure to serve the future of transportation. Each EVIE is outfitted to charge two cars at once while also illuminating streets and sidewalks, converting every curbside in front of businesses, apartments, and other public spaces into safe charging stations.
The EVIE Mini is conceptualized as another charging station sans the lighting feature, intended for parking lots in front of public spaces such as a supermarket, restaurant, train station, or airport.
An integrated pay screen permits drivers without the EVIE app to charge their vehicle and pay using an intuitive digital interface.
The EVIE app provides real-time location data to all charging locations, allowing EV owners to find, book, and pay for charge time.
By using existing infrastructure and switching out street lamps instead of building entirely new and dedicated charging locations, EVIE suggests a significantly less expensive option for rolling out EV infrastructure at scale essentially turning street lights into something of a parking meter. Only the future will tell if local and national governments are willing to invest in a technology still rolling steadily forward in first gear.
To learn more about Alloy’s efforts, visit thealloy.com.
