Ulster County's first "off the grid" solar-powered electric vehicle charging station will be something EV owners in remote areas of the county will be able to use to charge electric vehicles and more.

Electric-powered vehicles are quickly becoming more common on Hudson Valley roads and because of that the need for more charging stations has become as important as ever.

Ulster County EV Charging Station
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Ulster County Buys Moveable EV Charging Station

According to Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, the county has purchased a new "moveable EV ARC charging station" which will give county residents the chance to charge EVs without using electricity from the power grid.

The EV ARC charging station was unveiled at a Tuesday press conference in the parking lot of the Ulster County Office Complex off of Albany Avenue, in Kingston, NY according to the Daily Freeman.

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Metzger told those in attendance that the 100% American-made unit, which was built by a San Diego-based company called Beam, is equipped with a 44-kilowatt solar array and a 40-kilowatt battery to store the generated electricity.

The unit should produce the same amount of power that a Level 2 charging station does without drawing any electricity from the power grid. (Level 2 chargers are one of the most common chargers in use today.)

Solar Powered EV Charging Station
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Free Energy in Ulster County

Metzger, who was excited about the unit said,

"It’s free energy! We don’t have to depend on Central Hudson."

The energy provided by the unit might be free but the unit itself comes with a $99,000 price tag, which was partly covered by a federal energy conservation bloc grant the county received. Ulster County paid approximately $17,600 for the unit after the grant was applied.

Ashokan Rail Trail EV Station
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Where Will the Charging Station be Located in Ulster County?

The charging station will be moved from its current location off Albany Ave to the parking lot of the Ashokan Rail Trail in Boiceville, NY sometime in November. This specific location was selected because it is one of the many areas in the county where there currently are no charging stations.

Helpful in Case of Emergency

Another benefit from a portable unit like this is that it can be moved on a flatbed truck to various locations and could help to provide power for vehicles during a power outage or other emergencies, according to Metzger.

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