The adoption of electric vehicles (EV) In large cities you face a major obstacle: the lack of fast and accessible charging infrastructure. In New York, where traffic congestion and environmental pollution are pressing problems, this alternative proposes an innovative solution: fast-charging “trees” on sidewalks.
The idea is to bring these EV charging points to the streets with “Deap Trees” (Distributed Energy Access Points). These charging “trees”, more elegant and taller than conventional chargers, seek integrate into the urban landscape without the mess of cables that hinder passage and disfigure the streets.
Its design incorporates a hinged swivel arm that lowers the charging cable and raises it again after use. This flexibility makes them compatible with any EV model, regardless of the location of its charging port.
Speed is key to the mass adoption of electric vehicles in urban environments. The chargers of Level 2, although more common, require several hours to fully charge an electric vehicle, which means taking up valuable curb space for long periods. Fast chargers direct current (DC), Capable of charging a battery in less than an hour, they are expensive to install and often require significant upgrades to the electrical grid.
The “Deap Trees” They offer two loading speeds:
- 200 kW: They provide 321.87 kilometers of autonomy in 13 minutes.
- 500 kW: They provide 321.87 kilometers of autonomy in just 5 minutes.
This ultra-fast charging capability significantly increases the number of vehicles that can use the charging point each day, making it a catalyst for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. These “trees” are connected to the existing electrical grid and provide fast charging without overloading the infrastructure of nearby buildings.
Additionally, the company is designing its chargers to be bidirectional. In the future, grid-connected vehicles, even when fully charged, They will be able to supply power to nearby buildings during peak demand periods. However, there are still challenges to overcome. Most current EVs are not prepared to handle bidirectional charging or charging speeds greater than 350 kW.
New York has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050with the 80% of trips made on foot, by bicycle or public transport. To achieve this, the city will need 1.6 million electric vehicles, supported by a network of almost 160,000 level 2 chargers and 60,000 fast chargers. The city plans to put out to tender the installation of another 10,000 charging points.
The success of the “Deap Trees” will depend on their ability to overcome technical and regulatory challenges, as well as the widespread adoption of electric vehicles with ultra-fast charging capabilities.
