FYI: Beam Global introduces BeamSpot, an innovative streetlight EV charging solution powered by solar and wind energy, ideal for urban areas with challenging infrastructure.
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### Beam Global Unveils BeamSpot: A Streetlight-Powered EV Charging Solution
Navigating the electric vehicle (EV) landscape in crowded cities like New York can be a daunting task, primarily due to the hurdles of finding available charging stations. While homeowners with private parking enjoy the convenience of charging their EVs at home, urban dwellers often resort to makeshift solutions such as trailing extension cords from their apartments. Beam Global is stepping in with a superior solution.
On Monday, the clean technology company launched BeamSpot, a solar- and wind-powered EV charging station designed to replace conventional streetlights. This solution is particularly aimed at areas where installing traditional EV chargers is prohibitively expensive or logistically challenging—think city streets, apartment complexes, airports, and shopping centers.
### Addressing Urban Charging Challenges
“BeamSpot aims to solve critical problems both in the U.S. and Europe by expanding access to charging where people need it most—at the curb on streets and parking lots,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global.
This innovative solution stands out because it can generate much of its own electricity and store it within integrated 15 kWh battery packs. BeamSpot units can therefore dispense substantially more power than typical streetlight circuits. Additionally, requiring no extensive electrical work or construction, they can be installed without complex permitting, trenching, or utility upgrades—though specific permitting laws may vary by location.
### Performance and Efficiency
BeamSpot units harness energy from a 1-kilowatt solar array, a 1-kilowatt wind turbine, and the existing electrical connection of streetlights. This enables each unit to deliver up to 220 miles of electric driving range per day. Furthermore, BeamSpot chargers can offer up to 5.76 kW of power and are compatible with charging equipment from any brand. Beam Global also offers the EV Arc 2020, a larger version of BeamSpot with a more substantial solar array and greater battery storage capacity.
### Community Impact and Cost
Standing at 40 feet tall with the wind turbine (30 feet without), the installation of BeamSpot units is likely to spark significant community discussions. Still, the company asserts that the economic advantage is clear: BeamSpot is less expensive than the EV Arc—which costs around $65,000—and is more cost-effective than traditional EV charger installations that involve trenching and significant modifications to existing infrastructure.
Deploying more curbside charging stations is crucial for increased EV adoption. While fast-charging stations make headlines, everyday EV users benefit more from widely available slow-charging infrastructure—allowing them to charge their vehicles steadily where they are parked for long durations.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
