HANOVER, N.H. (WCAX) – Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, boasts the first off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle charger in the Northeast.
“We’re super-excited to have it here on campus. It’s been a great asset,” said Marcus Welker of Dartmouth College.
Standard EV chargers connected to the grid are dotted across campus, but Dartmouth was looking for even greener energy.
“The emissions associated with that power are significantly higher than this 100% renewable energy system,” Welker said.
A large solar panel with light sensors pivots throughout the day, channeling maximum sunlight directly to EVs plugged in below. Four faculty members are piloting the charger. The college installed the system back in December.
“It makes it easier to install and to support our faculty and staff to make that transition to electric vehicles,” Welker explained.
The one-of-a-kind charger began taking shape a year and a half ago just down the road at Solaflect Energy in Norwich, Vermont.
“It’s enormously energizing to be right out at the edge of the envelope here,” said Rob Adams of Solaflect Energy.
The Solaflect team says their innovation is inspired by the lack of EV chargers across the region, particularly in rural communities with limited grid access.
“There is a really great fit for this as a solution for communities that otherwise weren’t going to have access. This really fills a hole,” Adams said.
The charger costs $50,000 but federal incentives are available to knock off thousands.
Adams says it’s cheaper than other versions sold on the West Coast and can save users installation and maintenance costs typical of on-the-grid chargers.
Dartmouth is leasing the charger for around $4,000 annually with hopes of eventually bringing more to campus.
“We definitely have more demand for EV charging on campus for this particular system than we can currently provide,” Welker said.
Cheshire Medical Center and Middlebury College are just a few of the institutions next on the list to receive the chargers.