San Diego-based solar EV charger developer Beam Global says New York City has become its largest municipal customer with a latest order expanding the coverage of its EV ARC solar-powered EV charging systems to 89 units across the city.

The chargers are completely off-grid and require no construction, permitting or electrical work. A key design feature is their suitability for areas prone to extreme weather such as the flash floods New York experienced during Hurricane Ida in September.

The chargers will continue to function during power outages in part because the large flat solar panels sit 3m above the street level and the structure is designed and tested to withstand wind speeds of 120 mph.

“We are seeing an increase in extreme weather events across the US and globally,” says Beam Global CEO Desmond Wheatley. “Nobody can afford to lose their fuelling infrastructure for prolonged periods. The EV ARC can charge EVs during the power outages that are an increasingly common result of this climate shift and other factors affecting our grid.”

“Organisations in areas subject to hurricanes, rising sea water and flooding due to unusually heavy rainfall can experience permanent damage to traditional electric infrastructure,” adds Wheatley. “The EV ARC product can survive these events and provide vital power when the grid cannot.”