How PoleVolt Could Increase Access to Curbside EV Chargers

Duke Energy and the Energy Production & Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have developed PoleVolt, an electric vehicle (EV) charger that mounts on a light pole with overhead power. This innovation is aimed at addressing the challenge of EV charging for those who can’t install home chargers, such as renters or those parking on the street. PoleVolt utilizes existing infrastructure and is easier and less expensive to install than traditional EV chargers. It is designed to make EV charging more accessible and help close the gap in charging inequities, regardless of socioeconomic status. The initiative is part of efforts to boost EV adoption and reduce carbon emissions in transportation.

“Harmon designed a mobile site that starts and monitors a charging session, while product development continued at Duke Energy’s Emerging Technology Office (ETO), west of Charlotte. With a bright LCD screen, video tutorials walk first-time users through the charging process, and EV drivers get visual feedback when it’s plugged in correctly – features made possible by a local intelligence module designed by the ETO’s Steve Hinkel. Its heavy-duty cable also retracts between sessions, so people are less likely to cut or trip on it…To minimize installation costs, the Outdoor Lighting Standards group designed brackets that simplified how the charging station is mounted to a Duke Energy light pole. For customers, this translates to lower attachment fees.”

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