Los Angeles Expands Curbside EV Charging Using Streetlight Poles
The city of Los Angeles is set to make EV charging more accessible by integrating 10,000 charging stations into its existing streetlight pole infrastructure. This initiative aims to leverage the city's current electric system, making use of the lighting poles to support EV drivers.
The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting (LABSL) has been tasked with the installation of these chargers while also upgrading the streetlights with energy-efficient LED bulbs. AmpUp, a charging software specialist focused on shared networks, and EVSE, a manufacturer of retractable-cable EV chargers, are providing the technology for this project.
So far, over 750 chargers have been installed, and with more than 220,000 lighting poles throughout the city, there is significant potential for further expansion. The goal is to install 10,000 chargers across the city in the coming years.
"Pole-mounted chargers offer greater access to EV charging for residents of multi-unit dwellings or areas lacking traditional charging infrastructure," said Dean Spacht, vice president of sales and marketing at EVSE. He also highlighted the advantages of the patented retractable cable design in enhancing urban safety and reducing vandalism. AmpUp's platform adds reliability with its demand response feature, helping manage electricity loads during peak demand to support grid stability.
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