OE Designs: The OE Solar Oak Charger

Solar Tree Electric Car Charger

[by G.Chance using Google SketchUp]

The OE Technology design team has created this concept electric car charger for supermarket and corporate parking lots. By using alternative forms of energy like the Bloom Energy Box, these charging stations would use both solar energy and alternative fuels to charge parked electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster, Toyota Prius, or the Chevy Volt.

The station is built out of recycled aluminum, with organic polymer solar panels, and uses energy efficient light bulbs to provide light under solar panel awning. The idea for the solar awning was first seen at the Dell Computer Compound in Texas, where solar trees provide electricity for the computer company, as well as shaded parking.

The chargers would most likely be GE WattStations. These chargers would be placed at each parking spot, and signs would be up for electric car parking only. There should be incentives to drive an electric car as well, placing electric car parking structures in between handicap parking spots and regular parking, allowing electric car users to park closer to the buildings.

With the recent birth of the GE WattStation, parking lots in America will have to find new ways of allowing electric cars to successfully charge during the typical daily routine. By placing this charging stations in large parking lots where people park for a number of hours allows for mid day electric car charges, spanning the average



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