Off-grid electric vehicle charging can help cities and counties reach sustainability targets

Installing electric vehicle (EV)-charging infrastructure is a crucial first step in achieving sustainability goals, says Desmond Wheatley, CEO of clean technology company Beam Global. “Just get started. Investing in just one EV charging station is a feat in and of itself that should be celebrated as we aim to electrify our future. Once you begin adding these solutions to your city/county planning, it’s easy to continue the momentum.”

Wheatley urges city and county officials to invest in off-grid EV-charging infrastructure. His reasons: He believes that as technology expands globally and electric vehicle purchases increase, so too does the threat of hacks, physical attacks and weather interfering with the nation’s centralized grid. “That grid has both a major capacity problem that won’t be able to support all the EVs coming down the road as adoption increases, and it remains incredibly vulnerable to interference from bad actors.”

He says it is imperative that cities and counties do everything in their power to make their communities resilient in the face of inclement weather and events like the North Carolina substation assault at the end of 2022. Two electrical distribution substations located in Moore County, N.C., were damaged in the shooting attack. Damage from the attack left as many as 40,000 residential and business customers without electrical service.

In the future, Wheatley predicts that cities and counties will adopt some form of restriction on sales of new gasoline-powered cars, similar to restrictions imposed in several coastal states. In addition to California and Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington have made the commitment to stop allowing sales of new gas-powered vehicles after 2035.

He explains: “By banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles, states and cities alike have begun taking necessary steps forward to ensure our world is sustainable for years to come. Widespread EV adoption and ensuring the market delivers the necessary charging infrastructure to support it will be aided by consumers putting the pressure on industry and government leaders.”

It’s Wheatley’s view that more government entities will see the value in providing Level 1 and Level 2 charging infrastructure that’s meant to break away from the gas station model that we’re so accustomed to. Typical charging time for a Level 2 EV charger is around three-eight hours from empty to full, while the average Level 1 EV charger will take 11-20 hours to fully charge, according to an industry source.

“The worst thing you can do for the longevity of your EV and the grid is to mimic the gas station experience, where you charge once a week when your battery is already empty. Conversely, the best thing you can do for a car battery is to charge it between 40 and 80 percent all the time, similar to how you would charge your cell phone.”

Wheatley notes that eight out of 10 commuters in the United States drive less than 24 miles for their round-trip commute, so sipping power throughout the day makes the most sense for these commuters. “When arriving at your destination, it’s best to plug in, no matter how briefly, to optimize battery replenishment.”

Wheatley cites the Big Apple as a community that has achieved some sustainability wins in the short-term. “The city has begun laying the groundwork for an all-electric fleet that will support citywide operations, all while benefiting the environment. New York City is Beam Global’s largest municipal customer with 160 of our EV ARC solar-powered EV charging infrastructure units deployed. EV ARC systems are rapidly deployed without digging up city streets and parking areas.” The charger setup is a totally renewable, transportable, off-grid EV charging option. Wheatley adds that the system’s ability to provide EV charging during grid outages and emergency power when needed is an important benefit for the city.

Wheatley urges city officials to kick-start their sustainability initiatives with seed funds. “No investment in sustainability is too small. As a federal GSA vendor, I know first-hand how long the process from proposal to budget approval and deployment can take. Beam Global’s off-grid charging solution, the EV ARC, removes additional administrative burdens. The system provides our customers sustainable, renewable clean energy without the need for permitting and extensive site surveying.”

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Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County. Contact him at [email protected].