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Solar powered EV charging station in Austin supports its smart cities initiative

March 1, 2018

A solar-powered kiosk in Austin, Texas, known as Electric Drive, enables residents to fuel electric vehicles and cell phones, as well as serving as an access point for bike sharing and car sharing, according to govtech.com. The kiosk, located in Austin's Seaholm EcoDistrict, generates power from Texas wind farms.

The kiosk is part of the Austin Energy's Plug-In Everywhere network, which supports more than 600 EV charging ports. Drivers can use the charging ports for $$4.17 per month.

The kiosk's solar panels store electricity in a 300 amp-hour battery bank, which looks like a gas pump. The kiosk station also has bike racks, seating, lighting and tables built from reclaimed wood.

The city was chosen among five contenders during last year's Smart Cities Council Readiness Challenge, making it eligible for products and services to help it expand its use of Internet of Things technology.