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Grid-Independent Solar EV Charging with Battery Backup

Solution Overview

Pittsburgh has developed a network of resilient electric vehicle charging stations that operate independently from the electrical grid through solar generation and battery backup systems.[4] This approach ensures that residents maintain access to vehicle and device charging during grid failures while supporting the city's broader vehicle electrification goals.[4] The infrastructure addresses the challenge that Pittsburgh neighborhoods typically lack driveways and garages, making home charging prohibitive for many city residents.[4]

Technical Components

Each EV charging location consists of 2 dual-port Level 2 charging stations, which can accommodate up to 4 vehicles to charge at once.[1] The City of Pittsburgh acquired 5 EV ARC™ solar standalone charging stations that are not connected to the grid and serve as a source of emergency power backup, supporting neighborhood resilience goals.[2] The EV ARC™ solar standalone charging station enabled the City to provide easy and quick to install renewable power, in a way that visually and functionally met the needs of the neighborhood.[2] Additionally, the City and the Parking Authority will install 25 Level 2 charging stations on a DC microgrid.[3] These charging stations receive power through a solar canopy tied into the local district energy microgrid.[3] One of Beam Global's deployment experts can set up an EV ARC in as little as a few minutes.[5]

Implementation Details

The City of Pittsburgh was awarded federal grant funding from Round 1B of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to install publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations.[1] Pittsburgh's CFI Grant enables Phase 1 installation of 4 community park sites with 16 ports and 2 community parking facility sites with 16 ports.[1] Pittsburgh's CFI Grant enables Phase 2 installation of 3 community parking facility sites with 20 ports and 12 community curbside sites with 48 ports.[1] The City is leading the effort to install 12 public curbside chargers where the private sector typically doesn't invest.[1] Pittsburgh's EV charging station locations were selected based on federal guidelines that focused on equity and environmental justice census block data as well as existing electrical capacities.[1] Key requirements of the grant program include ensuring 24/7 public accessibility, supporting environmental justice with a focus on Justice40 communities, and providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.[1] The City of Pittsburgh is working closely with Duquesne Light Company's Community, Fleet, & Transit Charging Program to determine the most cost-effective method to install and energize each charging station.[1] The Pittsburgh Parking Authority evaluated 22 lots where new chargers could fill network gaps and serve residents in need.[1] The Pittsburgh Parking Authority manages 34 surface lots and has already installed 35 public chargers in city garages.[1] The charging stations will be open to the public during the day and will recharge the City of Pittsburgh's Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections vehicles at night.[3] In 2021, the City published the Public Facilities EV Charging Strategic Plan, creating the mission for public EV charging throughout Pittsburgh.[1] The City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget put out a Request for Proposal for a Mobile Electric Charging Station in conjunction with the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program.[2] The City, U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Energy Technology Lab signed a historic agreement to research, develop and deploy district energy and microgrid systems throughout Pittsburgh.[3] Beam Global's EV ARC systems start at $59,400.[5] Beam Global says its customers' savings on construction and electric work exceeds the cost of the EV ARC in almost every instance.[5] Over the past 10 years, Beam Global has deployed hundreds of EV ARCs.[5] The City has a $5 million budget to purchase 10 electric motorcycles, 81 electric sedans, 14 electric medium-duty SUVs and 107 Level 2 charging stations over a three-year period beginning in 2017.[3]

Benefits and Impacts

The system builds resilience and functions even if the alternating current grid goes down.[3] As an EPA air quality nonattainment zone, vehicle electrification comes with the very important co-benefit of improving local air quality by reducing tailpipe emissions.[4] The Hubs could be utilized to improve the ease of commuting via less carbon intensive transit modes, as a place to purchase bus tickets, post City transit option maps, and connect people to car, van and bike pools.[4] Using the Resilient EV Charging Hubs as a reporting station for idling or other air quality violations would enable residents to make the connection between the carbon reduction benefits of electrification and their direct health.[4] The kiosks can provide space for advertising to offset the cost of energy and maintenance.[4]

Climate Adaptation Relevance

Neighborhood charging stations operated with off-grid solar generation and battery backup provide a resilient hub for residents to gather and charge devices or vehicles in times of grid failure.[4] The charging infrastructure is not connected to the grid so is a source of emergency power backup, supporting neighborhood resilience goals.[2] In addition to providing clean energy, the system will build resilience and function even if the alternating current grid goes down.[3]

Business Analysis

Beam Global's EV ARC systems start at $59,400, and in almost every instance, the company says its customers' savings on construction and electric work exceeds the cost of the EV ARC.[5] The kiosks can provide space for advertising to offset the cost of energy and maintenance.[4] The City of Pittsburgh was awarded federal grant funding from Round 1B of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to install publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations.[1] Key requirements of the grant program include ensuring 24/7 public accessibility, supporting environmental justice with a focus on Justice40 communities, and providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.[1] The City has a $5 million budget to purchase 10 electric motorcycles, 81 electric sedans, 14 electric medium-duty SUVs and 107 Level 2 charging stations over a three-year period beginning in 2017.[3] Over the past 10 years, Beam Global has deployed hundreds of EV ARCs, which represent a growing list of incredibly compelling use cases, including otherwise impossible charging locations.[5]

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