Envision Solar International, Inc., announced that the City of Richmond in California has deployed the its EV ARC™ 2020 solar-powered EV charging infrastructure product at Marina Bay Park. The unit includes an emergency power panel, which allows first responders access to electricity in power outages such as the Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Because the unit is powered by the sun, it does not rely on the grid for power. The City of Richmond has made the charger available for the public to Drive on Sunshine for free.
“We chose the EV ARC because it is an off-grid solar-powered charger, which saves the City installation construction costs, generates no utility bills and can be relocated as needed,” said Denée Evans of the City of Richmond Transportation Services Department. “The addition of the EV ARC complements our ‘First Mile Last Mile’ strategies to increase access and transportation connectivity. The unit is also part of the City’s emergency preparedness and energy resiliency planning. It will serve double duty as a source of electricity during power outages, particularly important with the upcoming Public Safety Power Shutoffs that have become a seasonal fire prevention norm in the Bay Area.”
The charging station was deployed during the COVID-19 lockdown because the delivery requires zero contact with City personnel. Upon delivery, a sanitization process was performed on surfaces where people interface with the charger, after which photographs, a checklist and delivery documentation were emailed to the customer.
“California is the largest adopter of EVs in the U.S., a 47% share nationwide. The state has set a goal to have 1.3 million EVs on the road by 2025, and there is a Governor’s executive order requiring the installation of 250,000 charging stations to power them. Our EV ARC is the most quickly deployed and cost-effective choice to bring that goal to fruition,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Envision Solar. “Our California Contract is a useful vehicle to help us meet that growing demand. The City of Richmond’s charging infrastructure can now be counted among the destinations in California where EV drivers can drive on sunshine for free.”
