Solar-powered EV station opens in Richmond for public use

RICHMOND — Installed during the shelter-in-place order, the city of Richmond is using a solar-powered EV charging station in Marina Bay — and is making it available to the public for free.

The station, made by Envision Solar International, Inc. in San Diego, was partially funded by a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, according to a news release. It includes an emergency power panel, which will allow first responders access to electricity in the event of outages including PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

“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 Richmond’s Transportation Services Department, in a statement. “The addition of the EV ARC complements our ‘First Mile Last Mile’ strategies to increase access and transportation connectivity.”

The charging station was installed during the coronavirus pandemic’s quarantine. The delivery and installation required zero contact with city personnel, according to the release from Envision Solar International, Inc.

California is the largest user of EVs in the nation with a 47 percent share, according to Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Envision Solar. He said the state has a goal of having 1.3 million EVs on the road by 2025. A state executive order calls for the installation of 250,000 charging stations, he said.

“Our EV ARC is the most quickly deployed and cost-effective choice to bring that goal to fruition,” Wheatley said in a statement. “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.”

Envision Solar said in its release that it produces and sells unique and patented sustainable infrastructure products for electric vehicle charging, energy security and outdoor media.