The startup Voltpost has partnered with the New York City government to convert streetlights into electric vehicle charging stations. The first unit is now operational at Bush Terminal Park in Brooklyn, with the charging hardware mounted approximately 3 meters above the ground to mitigate risks from vandalism and flooding.
The system features a 7.6-meter retractable cable that lowers automatically after a user scans a QR code. Once the charging session concludes, the cable retracts back into the unit. The service is priced at $0.39 per kilowatt-hour, which aligns with the standard rates for public Level 2 chargers in the city.
According to Luke Mairo, co-founder and COO of Voltpost, this infrastructure model leverages existing utility poles to bypass the need for extensive sidewalk excavation or new power conduit installation. This approach significantly reduces both installation costs and the time required for regulatory approval.
To ensure reliability, the charging units have received UL certification and underwent thousands of tests across various climate conditions. The equipment is rated for operation in temperatures ranging from -30 to 50 degrees Celsius. Voltpost provides remote monitoring and software-based troubleshooting for its network.
