Transportation

EV charging solution charges vehicles directly from circuit breaker

Image courtesy of Atom Power.

January 12, 2022

Atom Power, a Huntersville, North Carolina based manufacturer of a UL listed solid-state digital circuit breaker, has introduced Purpl, an EV charging solution that charges vehicles directly from the circuit breaker and incorporates energy management technology to keep electricity costs low, according to a press release.

Because Purpl charges EVs directly from the circuit breaker, not from electronics in the charging pedestal at the vehicle, the solution can support the goals of "make ready" utility programs beyond traditional infrastructure equipment. Cities like Atlanta and Seattle have passed "make ready" policies that require EV infrastructure, i.e. circuit breakers, electrical panels and chargers, to be planned for at the time of construction.

Additionally, because Purpl charges EVs directly from the breaker, the charging station itself does not contain expensive electronics; it's simply a metal tube or wall box with a charge plug and cable. If a charging pedestal becomes damaged, the cost to replace it is $400 to $500 instead of thousands of dollars.

Atom Power has already secured the largest single contract multi-family electric vehicle charging project in New York City, according to the press release. The contract was originally for 355 EV chargers and has since increased to more than 500 chargers.