The City of Charlotte, N.C., has purchased four EV ARC solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations from Envision Solar International for public and city use. Each off-grid unit includes an emergency power panel and can be relocated for city events or in case of emergency power needs, according to the company.

“The City of Charlotte is excited to add sunshine as a reliable energy source for our transportation needs,” said Steve Gucciardi, environmental services project manager for the City of Charlotte. "In addition to free EV charging for our citizens, the EV ARC solar charging stations make a visible sustainability statement. We plan to occasionally relocate them for special events, but they will primarily live by our award-winning Fire Department headquarters."

North Carolina has a goal to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the state to at least 80,000 by 2025. The Charlotte deployment was supported by the Clean Fuel Advanced Technology project — funded in part by North Carolina Department of Transportation — that provides grant funding to reduce transportation-related emissions.

“The grid-independent EV ARC EV charging stations deployed by the City of Charlotte include emergency power panels, visibly demonstrating the city’s commitment to EV infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and energy safety. We believe this expansion trend will continue as cities update their plans in the wake of the current COVID-19 crisis,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO at Envision Solar.

Local governments are mandated or recommended by federal and state laws to have emergency management policies and procedures in place. Organizations like Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state government agencies provide resources, guidelines, and tools to city planners. EV ARC solar-powered charging stations are included in the FEMA Authorized Equipment List, under designation 10BC-00-SOLR Chargers.

Manufactured in California, the EV ARC and EV ARC DC Fast Charging products fit inside single parking spaces without reducing available parking. The EV ARC product generates enough solar electricity to power up to 225 miles of EV driving in a day. EV ARC DC fast charging systems provide up to 1,100 miles per day.