Published July 22, 2010

A California company has developed what it calls "Plug-N-Go" solar-powered charging systems for electric vehicles.

Called "SunPods," the systems are engineered, manufactured and tested in the factory, then delivered to customers with minimal need for site preparation and no on-site array assembly. They can be scaled up from small to large production capacities.

"SunPods are ready to interconnect and power up on delivery, requiring only an electrician to make the connections," the company says on its website.

An example of the solar charging station was displayed at the Clean Tech Open, a clean-technology business competition in San Jose, Calif.

"This is the world's first factory-built solar power electric charging station, designed for fast installation on any ground, including pavement," the company, Sun Pods Inc., said in a news release.  "The SP-300 Plug-N-Go arrives complete with EV charging station, solar modules and inverter to provide immediate power."

The systems can be grid-connected or off-grid, the company said, and can be used with or without storage batteries.

The solar charging systems are an example of a future in which electricity could be generated from a solar array and be used immediately at the site, be delivered into the grid immediately, or be stored in a battery system; or could be drawn from the grid as needed and stored; or could be delivered back from a battery system to the grid when that is desired. Grid-connected solar arrays already automatically deliver electricity into the grid when production exceeds a site's consumption, through a crediting process called net metering.  

"In one configuration, SunPods SP-300 net-meters solar power back to the grid to offset non-renewable grid power," the company's website says. "In another design, the SP-300 is equipped with the latest battery storage systems, providing optimal power storage and buffering between the electrical vehicle and the grid. The SP-300 is a bi-directional power system, allowing power input and output with both solar and grid connected power sources. Smart Grid capable, the SP-300 net-meters solar power back to the grid when the SunPod battery system is fully charged. In the future, as grid connections become Smart Grid enabled, utilities will be able to access and manage the SunPods stored energy at peak demand times."

Although the company did not mention it, in the future utilities may also be able to tap into the stored reserves of electric vehicles — with an owner's permission, of course — when extra power is needed, at peak times, for example. Owners would be compensated for allowing their vehicles to be used as battery banks.

"Our unique business model is an excellent example of creating change using market-available products by rethinking traditional practices," said Michael Gumm, executive vice president and co-founder of Sun Pods Inc., in the news release.

The company said it is growing and moved this month to a new headquarters and factory in San Jose. It "will soon be hiring personnel for the assembly facility capable of producing up to 1 megawatt of SunPods units per month," the release said. "The company has worked closely with the city of San Jose to grow within the city limits, working with the city's development and enterprise programs. It's all a part of San Jose's plan to become the clean-tech center of California, and SunPods is glad to be a part of it."