Greentech Lead America: Empower Energies announced the completion and commissioning of a new Solar Electric Vehicle  (EV) Charging Station at McCluskey Chevrolet at the King’s Automall in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The eight-space installation has the capacity to charge about 3000 electric vehicles per year – from completely empty to full – directly from the sun.
McCluskey Chevrolet chose to incorporate the new solar EV charging station as part of Chevrolet’s Facility Image Program, a dealership-wide upgrade which is scheduled for completion in late-Summer 2013.
“We worked closely with Empower Energies on the EV charging station, and with LSI Industries on the LED lighting, for a dealership-wide approach to renewable energy and energy efficiency, and we had great support throughout from our Chevrolet Regional Manager Maurice Williams,” said Keith McCluskey, chief executive officer at McCluskey Chevrolet.
“The McCluskey Chevrolet installation required a very high level of integration,” said Len Jornlin, CEO of Empower Energies. “The results are especially gratifying given the numerous moving parts involved in a full dealership upgrade during an Ohio winter. We were even able to alter our schedule when they needed to address issues specific to other parts of their project.”
Cincinnati-based LSI Industries provided innovative graphics and energy-efficient LED lighting for the solar EV charging station. The graphics ensure that visitors to the dealership will understand that they are allowed to plug into the charging canopy to “fill up” their Chevy Volt or other electric vehicle for free.
The LED lighting ties into LSI’s overall site lighting and wireless control system, allowing scheduling and customizable programming.
Empower Energies has installed similar solar charging stations for numerous Chevrolet dealerships from Grand Blanc, MI, to Bartlett, TN, to Burlingame, CA. Empower Energies solar EV charging stations have also been commissioned at General Motors corporate locations and other commercial facilities across the country, with more being commissioned every month.