Paired Power, a manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging products, has announced the launch of its transportable solar canopy, PairTree, with built-in EV charging capacity.
PairTree’s modular deign supports fast installation and can be used without connection to the grid, according to Paired Power. This, the company claims, saves the costs of construction associated with traditional solar canopy installations.
PairTree was designed to optimise EV charging to deliver up to 75 miles (120km) of daily range to an EV, which is considerably more than the US daily commuter average of 30 miles (48.2km), according to a 2022 McKinsey & Company Report.
PairTree also supports the integration of up to 40kWh of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, with the addition of some batteries to an EV extending its potential daily range to up to 230 miles (370km).
PairTree’s modular design is available in 5kW units, each of which is fitted with ten bifacial solar panels. The canopy can also be tailor to the consumer, with Paired Power offering custom branding, lighting and media options.
“With traditional solar canopies, locations can wait as long as two years to be connected to the local utility grid, just to use their chargers,” said Tom McCalmont, CEO and co-founder of Paired Power.
“The installation of traditional EV chargers and solar canopies is a time and labor-intensive process, not to mention the disruption and delays of construction.
“We designed PairTree to eliminate these hassles and make the transition to solar and EV charging simple and scalable while also being modular enough to accommodate future needs.”
Paired Power claims that, unlike conventional solar canopies that need an extensive permitting and build process, PairTree can be fitted by two workers in a single day using standard hand tools, which is 30 times fast than average installations.
Some of the applications the solution is designed for include temporary units, such as retail stores, who don’t want to invest in permanent infrastructure, or locations that have maxed out local grid capacity. The solution is also designed to provide emergency backup power and temporary power.
According to Paired Power, the ballasted steel foundation saves on typical foundation costs and associated delays, while also being suitable for a range of climates and deployment across the US, with the option of additional batteries and ground screws for windy weather.
Moreover, the solution is designed for multi-unit configuration when installed, meaning it offers additional output for other chargepoints.
To support minimal maintenance needs, the chargers are designed without moving parts and cellular cloud connectivity to enable remote updates and diagnostic processes.
Customers are also provided with access to digital support and payment methods through the Paired Power app, which was developed in collaboration with EV network and solution provider EvGateway.
Orders for PairTree can be placed now and are expected for delivery beginning in Q2 2023.
