Brightfield is an electric vehicle (EV) charging company that also offers solar and energy storage for charging stations. Its mission is to deliver residential and industrial solar charging solutions. Essentially, Brightfield Solar Driven charging solutions are helping EVs become even cleaner. It’s making the world even tougher for EV naysayers.
Brightfield Solar & EV Charging
Brightfield is a technology integration company that delivers highly scalable platforms for solar EV charging. It includes solar panels, energy storage, 
management, customer engagement, and data aggregation capabilities as a one-stop-shop solution for cars that drink electrons.
Stan Cross, CEO and cofounder, spent the better part of the last 20 years in the sustainability industry and at nonprofits. He has worked on various programs, in fundraising, and in strategic planning. The rest of the team is also highly experienced. The company offers a surprisingly well thought out and all-encompassing portfolio of products and services.
Brightfield started in 2010 and has since deployed over 100 charging stations, 18 of which are public fast chargers in NC, TN, and MA. With partnerships with the US Department of Energy (D.O.E), Nissan, BMW, EVgo, Greenlots, and more at the state level, the company has accelerated the outreach of its products.
One of the station options is the Brightfield Charging Bollard, which is a standalone solar-powered charging solution to the Charging Bollard, perfect for housing up to three Level 2 EV chargers. One of the key points of the most basic Charging Bollards themselves is that they can be upgraded to include solar and storage later on if desired.
The list goes on, from the T1 Brightfield with 8 solar panels and 2.4 kilowatts, to the T2 Brightfield with 6.6 to 9.9 kilowatts of solar generating capacity, to the T3 Brightfield and its 10.8 to 15.3 kilowatts of solar capacity. There are also the industrial T4 and T5 platforms, and beyond. Basically, you can see it’s a modular approach and the company could put 100 stations in a row if there was enough space and that made sense.
As you would expect it, the solutions can be grid-connected or not and answer needs from residential to industrial customers.
Driving EVs to Malls, We Mean Business
Although the idea of driving to a mall might mean different things to everyone, one thing Brightfield is also trying to do is help shop owners see the benefits of installing chargers at their locations. The company claims EV drivers are highly educated and more affluent — in general, earning twice the national average paycheck. But more to the point, EV drivers are usually willing to pay a little more for products and services from businesses that commit positively to the environment and society. Brand loyalty is an added benefit.
One interesting partnership Brightfield is involved with is The Collider experiment in North Carolina. The experiment is to help businesses and science work better together, something much needed these days.
The Need To Boost Our Charging Infrastructure
As our free Internet is slowly being eroded by telecommunication companies and their sympathetic current administration, developing independent networks, including charging networks, is crucial. Companies that offer a wide variety of solutions and comprehensive platforms are challenging the status quo of deep pocket corporations.
The importance of solar energy and energy storage for EV charging at the Level 2 (240V) rate is important if EVs are to become mainstream. Charging companies that facilitate EV driving where it is needed and away from the current petroleum gridlock are key to reclaiming a modicum of choice in the way we move about.
With not enough public charging stations to meet EV demand, we are happy to see companies such as Volta, Adopt A Charger, and Brightfield deliver chargers where they are needed most. Brightfield estimates that there is still one public charger for every 15 EVs on the road, when the equation should be more like one public charger for every 5 EVs. It’s time we change that around. And solar powered.
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