An off-grid solar tracker powers this EV charging station

Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, has installed an off-grid solar tracker EV charging station for its employees.

“This solar electric vehicle charger is a part of the college’s efforts to make our [transportation systems] more sustainable”, said Marcus Welker, assistant director of sustainability at Dartmouth College [via Vermont Biz].

Solaflect Energy, based in Norwich, Vermont, designs and manufactures the Solar EV Charger. The four Level 2 charging points are powered by a 6.2-kilowatt solar array mounted on a dual-axis tracker that generates 40% more power than comparable fixed panel arrays.

The system’s 6-ton concrete foundation sits directly on parking lot lines, so it doesn’t take up any parking spaces and provides enough ground clearance for unimpeded traffic flow. Designed for climate resilience, it sheds snow quickly, stows flat in high winds, and sits high enough to avoid flooding.

Solar EV Charger operates even when the grid is down, and its transportable nature allows it to adapt as EV charging needs evolve. Here’s Dartmouth’s Solar EV Charger in action:

The off-grid solar tracker EV charger is quicker and less expensive to install than traditional grid-connected stations and avoids costly utility demand charges since there’s no need for infrastructure. Solaflect’s chargers scale easily, with one charger for every four EVs or plug-in hybrids. The company asserts that over its expected 25-year life, the system locks in 1 million miles of EV charging with minimal operating and maintenance costs.

Solaflect’s Solar EV charger is available for annual lease with no additional service costs or for purchase with a 30% federal investment tax credit. Its first installations will take place in New England, followed by a US-wide expansion.  

What do you think of Solaflect’s Solar EV Charger? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more: In a milestone, the US exceeds 5 million solar installations

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