Hermosa Beach Considers Adding Permanent Solar-Powered EV Charging Stations

HERMOSA BEACH, CA — Officials in Hermosa Beach will be holding a public hearing on the possibility of placing permanent solar-powered electric vehicle chargers in the city following a pilot partnership with San Diego-based Envision Solar.

The hearing will be held during the City Council's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Envision Solar said the pilot program with the city has been a success. The company placed an EV ARC solar-powered charger in a public parking lot on Hermosa Avenue since Aug. 19.

During the meeting, the City Council will review the data gathered through the pilot program period and consider placing permanent solar-powered EV chargers in the city. The EV ARC transportable EV charger was provided for free in a continuance of the city's efforts towards carbon neutrality.

"We are committed to becoming a carbon neutral municipality by 2020," mayor Hany Fangary said. "By creating pilot programs such as the one we've entered into with Envision Solar, we can test the latest renewable energy resources and approve, as a council, the assets we choose to install within the city that will significantly lower our carbon emissions and help us achieve our carbon neutral goals."

Hermosa Beach joined Davis, Austin, Texas and South Miami, Florida as early adopters of carbon neutrality.

"Hermosa Beach is a category leader in its commitment to the environment," Envision CEO Desmond Wheatley said. "With the addition of solar powered EV charging, the beach city once again demonstrates its willingness to explore new technologies that create energy-friendly solutions for EV charging in the greater LA area."

The EV ARC solar-powered charging station can provide enough electricity to power up to 150 miles of EV driving each day, according to the company. The charging station fits inside a parking space and does not reduce parking in any way, the company said.

— Photo courtesy of Envision Solar