Electric Cars

Voltpost is actively expanding its innovative lamppost-mounted electric vehicle charging solutions across New York State, enhancing the accessibility and convenience of EV charging infrastructure. This expansion includes the deployment of numerous new charging ports in various communities, with a particular focus on integrating these facilities into existing urban landscapes. The company's approach aims to simplify the transition to electric vehicles by offering efficient and cost-effective charging options.

In a significant move to bolster the EV charging network, Voltpost has recently activated 14 new charging ports across three distinct locations in New York: Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Cold Springs. This initiative marks a continued effort by the American startup to make curbside charging more prevalent, mirroring its success in other areas like Westchester County, Brooklyn, and Glenn Falls. Furthermore, to commemorate Climate Week, Voltpost is providing free charging services at its facility at the MADE Bush Terminal in Brooklyn, encouraging more drivers to experience the convenience of their charging technology.

The distinguishing feature of Voltpost's pole-mounted chargers lies in their economical installation process. Unlike conventional charging stations that necessitate extensive excavation and concrete work, these units tap directly into the power supply of existing utility poles. This method drastically reduces both the time and expense associated with deployment. Although these chargers are limited to a power output of up to 9.6 kilowatts due to their reliance on existing electrical infrastructure, they are ideally suited for locations where vehicles are typically parked for extended durations, such as commercial complexes or residential areas.

Voltpost's dual-port 'Air' chargers are designed for user-friendliness, featuring retractable cables equipped with J1772 connectors. This design allows drivers to easily extend the cable to their vehicle's charge port. To ensure durability and security, these charging units are installed approximately 10 feet (3 meters) above ground level, safeguarding them from environmental elements and potential vandalism. Each unit maintains a continuous internet connection through AT&T's network, ensuring reliable service.

Accessing these modern charging stations is streamlined through the Voltpost mobile application. Users can utilize the app to locate available charging points, check their status, monitor charging sessions in real-time, and securely process payments. This digital-first approach eliminates the need for on-site card readers, further simplifying the user experience. Jeffrey Prosserman, CEO and Co-Founder of Voltpost, emphasized the company's commitment to sustainable mobility, stating that their goal is to make EV charging as effortless as refueling a traditional gasoline vehicle by placing chargers where people already live and park. This strategy is designed to empower more New Yorkers to confidently embrace electric transportation.

Beyond its growing presence in New York, Voltpost is actively working on deploying its innovative lamppost EV chargers in several other states, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. This broader rollout underscores the company's vision for a nationwide, accessible EV charging network. The expansion represents a strategic effort to overcome infrastructure challenges and promote the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, contributing to a more sustainable future.

The company's commitment extends beyond just New York, with ongoing efforts to introduce its unique charging solutions in various other states. This wider deployment aims to address the critical need for convenient EV infrastructure across the nation, paving the way for a greener transportation landscape. By strategically placing chargers in easily accessible public spaces, Voltpost is playing a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to electric mobility and fostering environmental sustainability.

A large-scale investigation in the United Kingdom, encompassing data from numerous vehicle inspections, has concluded that electric automobiles maintain their roadworthiness for longer durations than gasoline-powered cars, with this performance gap widening significantly with increased mileage.

For a considerable period, the longevity of electric vehicles (EVs) has been a subject of debate, largely due to their relatively recent widespread adoption. Despite the inherent simplicity of EVs, featuring fewer moving components which theoretically reduces potential failure points, a degree of public apprehension about their long-term reliability has persisted. However, as modern EVs have now been operating for nearly two decades, a robust dataset is emerging, and the findings are overwhelmingly positive. This study, drawing upon millions of annual British MOT tests—a mandatory assessment for vehicle roadworthiness in the UK—analyzed various aspects including suspension, brakes, tires, and exhaust systems. The research tracked whether vehicles returned for subsequent MOT tests, indicating their continued presence on the road. Initially, gasoline and electric vehicles display comparable roadworthiness. Curiously, EVs show a slightly higher incidence of early issues; this can be attributed to their typically higher initial mileage accumulation compared to gasoline cars. When assessed purely on mileage, the early failure rates for both vehicle types are remarkably similar, differing by less than one percentage point. This trend shifts dramatically as vehicles surpass 40,000 miles. Beyond this threshold, gasoline cars consistently demonstrate reduced reliability, a decline that becomes more pronounced over time. By the 120,000-mile mark, a gasoline vehicle is approximately 7.5% more likely to have failed its inspection compared to an EV, with failure rates standing at 23.5% for gasoline cars versus 16% for EVs. Furthermore, the study indicates that older EVs maintain superior reliability, despite generally covering more miles annually than gasoline vehicles within the same age bracket.

The study also included a comparative analysis of vehicles offering both electric and gasoline variants. With the sole exception of the VW Golf, electric versions either matched or surpassed their gasoline counterparts in terms of reliability. This outcome is particularly notable given that many of these multi-powertrain EVs were designed with minimal chassis modifications, often simply accommodating a large battery, which resulted in them being heavier than their original chassis was intended to support. This increased weight contributed to significantly higher tire wear in these multi-powertrain EVs. While tire wear was generally greater for all BEVs compared to gasoline vehicles, purpose-built EVs like the BMW i3 exhibited lower tire wear rates than their multi-powertrain counterparts, such as the VW Golf. Interestingly, despite the weight factor influencing tire wear, it had no adverse effect on suspension systems; BEVs consistently reported fewer suspension problems than gasoline vehicles, irrespective of mileage. Brake systems in BEVs also demonstrated significantly fewer issues, primarily due to the prevalent use of regenerative braking. However, a specific observation for very old EVs (over 10 years) revealed an increased incidence of brake problems, likely a consequence of infrequent use of friction brakes and subsequent corrosion. This finding suggests a need for EV owners to periodically engage their friction brakes, even with regenerative braking as the primary stopping mechanism, and to regularly monitor tire condition. These trends extend beyond passenger vehicles to light commercial vans, where the electric version of the Nissan NV200 outperformed its diesel counterpart in all areas except tire wear. A recognized limitation of this study is its inability to track battery health, as this metric is not included in British MOT tests. Nevertheless, recent extensive research on battery health has indicated that EV batteries often last longer than anticipated, typically retaining around 90% of their capacity even after 90,000 miles of operation.

This groundbreaking research underscores the intrinsic advantages of electric vehicles in terms of long-term operational resilience and reduced maintenance needs. As the world transitions towards sustainable transportation, the proven durability of EVs offers a compelling argument for their adoption, fostering confidence in their ability to serve as reliable, environmentally conscious alternatives to traditional combustion engine vehicles. This shift not only benefits individual consumers through lower ownership costs but also contributes significantly to broader environmental goals by promoting cleaner, more enduring automotive technologies.