The innovation that could speed up the rollout of electric vehicles

In 2021, the Biden Administration and American automakers, set a goal for electric vehicles (EVs) to make up 50% of new vehicle sales by 2030. Achieving this ambitious target will not be possible without making EVs more affordable to everyone and a corresponding effort to install over 1.8 million public charging stations — 40 times the current volume of chargers in the United States.

For this monumental infrastructure buildout to be successful at enabling mass EV adoption, public charging access must be equitably distributed to support all drivers — especially in areas where residents use on-street parking. Achieving this will require EV chargers located at the curbside, a type of installation limited by high installation costs and crowded curbsides. To navigate these challenges, a new approach has emerged: using existing utility pole and streetlight infrastructure to install EV chargers, or pole-mounted charging.

Several cities across the United States are piloting pole-mounted chargers (PMCs) but only one, Los Angeles, has scaled this solution with over 450 PMCs.

Gathering insights from over 30 stakeholders across 13 cities, a new WRI working paper funded by the UPS Foundation, details learnings from existing pole-mounted charging programs and outlines preliminary guidance for U.S. cities and utilities interested in taking advantage of this solution:

WRI’s research finds that compared to ground-mounted chargers, PMCs yield installation cost savings up to 55% and overall cost reductions of 30% by using existing electrical connections and avoided costs associated with construction, materials, and labor. This means more chargers can be deployed for the same amount of public and private investments. Additionally, PMCs preserve valuable space for pedestrians and the growing list of services facilitated at the curb.

Less than 10% of US residents have public EV charging located within a 1/4 mile of their home. Additionally, Black and Latinx communities have disproportionately less access to this infrastructure. PMCs can serve drivers without access to charging at home. By prioritizing equitable access and input from local community engagement during the site selection process for chargers, PMCs can support those with the least access to this infrastructure.

Companies including Uber and Lyft have made commitments to completely electrify vehicles on their platform in the U.S. by 2030. However, many drivers are constrained by a lack of access to charging infrastructure. Ride-hailing companies can inform charger placement and potentially help finance PMCs to support near-home charging for drivers.

PMC installations can be completed in a matter of hours, compared to the weeks it can take to install a ground-mounted unit. In addition, the modularity of PMCs allows chargers to be relocated to different poles with relative ease, making public chargers adaptable assets that can meet the everchanging needs of the curbside.

PMCs can be mounted several feet up on a pole, providing several benefits including resiliency in flood-prone areas, vandalism reduction, and keeping equipment up and away from passing traffic.

Pole-mounted charging offers a cost-effective and creative approach for siting and installing public charging stations. In addition, they present an important tool that can help expand access to charging within U.S. cities. This isn’t, however, a one-size-fits-all solution — utility pole and streetlight infrastructure can vary significantly from one city to another, and PMC installations alone cannot match the projected demand for charging.

Using the guidance and insights developed by WRI, cities and utilities interested in deploying PMCs should assess if it is a strategy well-suited to their local context and determine how PMCs could support the creation a comprehensive public charging network.