Hundreds of thousands of electric cars are expected to be on the road in the next five years. Charging these vehicles has proven to be a challenge, mostly because of the lack of infrastructure — but now SolarCity is stepping in and answering consumer demands for cleaner transportation by offering installation services for ClipperCreek‘s solar-powered EV chargers, which are compatible with all EVs currently on the road.
The 240-volt chargers are available for as little as $1,500 and allow consumers to save up to 77 percent compared to what drivers of gas-guzzling vehicles pay for their fuel. SolarCity, which is best known for leasing solar panels to residential and commercial customers, is offering existing clients a discount on the chargers–basically encouraging these customers to make the switch to EVs by subsidizing their chargers.
Beyond simple cash savings, powering EVs with electricity generated from a home solar system means that drivers can enjoy carbon-free electricity, unlike with standard EV chargers that grab electricity from the grid.
SolarCity made news in 2009 by partnering with Rabobank to install the first solar-powered electric car charging corridor between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This time around, the company will jumpstart the solar-powered service with installations at 24 of its operations centers in the U.S, including Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; and Washington, D.C.
+ SolarCity
Via CNet
Photos courtesy of Rabobank, SolarCity
Another EXCELLENT corridor would be Hwy 95 on the East coast. It goes from Maine to Florida. In Virginia, the rest stops are all LEED certified (Platinum and Gold) and the DOT would be open to having charging stations at those rest areas.