Posted on September 29, 2021
| 11:31 a.m.
The city of Lompoc is marking National Drive Electric Week by announcing the upcoming arrival of a pair of public solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations in the city.
Lompoc is in the process of purchasing two Beam Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charge (EV ARC) stations with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District’s Clean Air Grants for Infrastructure program.
The EV ARC charging stations are expected to be delivered by Beam and inspected by the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) in mid-December. They will be available to the public immediately after passing APCD inspection. The charging stations will be in the Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC) parking lot, 1515 East Ocean Ave.
Both charging stations will be equipped with two charging cables, allowing four cars to charge simultaneously between the two stations.
The EV ARC electric vehicle charging stations are grid-independent, transportable, and solar powered, providing the Lompoc community with a sustainable option to fuel electric vehicles. Each EV ARC station features a 222-square-foot solar array with BeamTrak sun-tracking technology, which helps the stations capture as much solar energy as possible at a given location.
The stations are rated to withstand wind speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, so there will be no issues withstanding the average wind speed of 12 miles per hour in Lompoc. They are also flood-proofed up to 9.5 feet, and have a 9-foot minimum clearance height.
“By offering high-tech, off-grid solutions for electric vehicle charging like the EV ARC, cities like Lompoc can help minimize our impact on the electric grid,” said Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne. “I hope we see more cities and communities begin to test and adopt similar clean, renewable energy technologies in the years to come.”
“LVMC is pleased to partner with the city of Lompoc in efforts to improve the environment, and by extension, enhance public health,” said Steve Popkin, LVMC CEO. “These charging stations in the hospital parking lot will be available to the public, and are another way the hospital is privileged to serve our community.”
Beam Global is a San Diego-based company and is the manufacturer and retailer of the solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations.