Image: Voltpost
Voltpost made its name turning lampposts into EV chargers. Now it wants to hang them from garage ceilings and bolt them to apartment-building walls.
The New York-based startup has launched two new versions of its Voltpost Air Level 2 charger: the Voltpost Air Ceiling Mount, designed for parking garages, and the Surface Mount, which attaches to walls and pedestals.
Both are aimed at property owners who want to add EV charging without digging up a parking lot or carrying out a major garage renovation. Voltpost says the chargers can be installed in hours with little or no trenching, cutting installation costs by up to 70%. That’s the company’s estimate, and actual savings will depend on the site and its existing electrical infrastructure.
The Ceiling Mount is (of course) installed overhead, with Voltpost’s AutoCoil cable lowering when it’s needed and retracting afterward. That keeps charging cables off the garage floor, where they can become a tripping hazard or be damaged by vehicles, water, or snow.
The Surface Mount uses the same retractable setup but is designed for walls and pedestals. That gives property owners another option in parking lots and garages where a suitable pole or ceiling isn’t available.
Both models can be ordered with one or two charging ports and either J1772 or NACS connectors. Each Level 2 charger delivers up to 9.6 kW, which Voltpost says can add about 25-30 miles of range per hour, depending on the EV.
Drivers can pay through the Voltpost app, by credit card, or with an RFID card. The chargers are also connected through AT&T’s cellular network for remote monitoring and can appear in Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Uber, Tesla, and other automaker apps.
“The Voltpost Air portfolio expansion is the natural evolution of our company vision and platform. This lineup enables our team and partners to cost-effectively retrofit existing assets in the built environment with charging infrastructure, empowering more people with open access to reliable charging,” said Voltpost CEO and cofounder Jeff Prosserman.
Why multi-unit building charging matters
Home charging is one of the biggest advantages of owning an EV if you have a driveway or garage where you can install a charger. Apartment and condo residents often don’t have that option.
Nearly one-third of US homes are in multi-unit buildings, yet less than 5% of home EV charging takes place at those properties. Installation costs, limited electrical capacity, assigned parking, and the question of who pays for the charger and electricity can all slow projects down.
Voltpost’s new models don’t solve all those problems; a building still needs adequate electrical capacity, permits, and an owner willing to install them. But using existing ceilings, walls, and pedestals could simplify and reduce disruption during installation, particularly in older parking structures that weren’t designed with EV charging in mind.
The chargers are Build America, Buy America compliant and use modular, replaceable components to simplify repairs. Voltpost has not yet announced pricing, delivery dates, or the first locations for the two new models.
Read more: More US cities are getting Voltpost’s lamppost EV chargers
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