Summary
– Gravity unveils DEAP Trees, a series of chargers planted on streets and curbsides for electric vehicles
– DEAP Trees can fully charge vehicles in 5 to 13 minutes, with a capacity of 200kW or 500kW
– The design includes hinged swing arms with retractable cables to avoid tripping hazards
– Gravity aims to create a larger fast-charging network in the US than Tesla’s Supercharger network
– Future plans may include adding smart city technologies to the chargers, such as traffic cameras and public WiFi
Article
Gravity, an infrastructure startup for electric vehicles, has recently introduced DEAP Trees, a series of chargers with mounting and cable systems that are planted on the streets and curbsides to allow EV owners to fully charge their vehicles in just 5 to 13 minutes while on the road. These chargers are designed to work with Gravity’s 200kW and 500kW Distributed Energy Access Points (DEAPs), which were unveiled to the public earlier in the year. By implementing these curbside installations, Gravity aims to create a network of on-street DEAP Trees charging that surpasses Tesla’s current Supercharger network, with the goal of becoming the largest fast-charging network in the US.
In collaboration with design firm Rangr Studio, Gravity has developed a unique design for the DEAP Trees chargers. These chargers feature a hinged swing arm that holds a cable which bows down towards the electric vehicle when charging begins, similar to the mechanism of a Swiss Army knife. This design allows the cable to be extended and reach the vehicle’s port, regardless of the model. Once the charging is complete, the arm raises back automatically and the connector latches back onto the pole, out of sight from passersby. This innovative design eliminates the need for long cables, making it safe, accessible, and resistant to vandalism.
One of the key features of Gravity’s DEAP Trees is their ability to provide fast charging without the need for long cables. The chargers retract back to their lamp-post-like bodies and do not require drivers to bring their own cables, thus avoiding tripping hazards, obstacles to accessibility, and potential vandalism. Each DEAP Tree can provide 200 miles of range in either 13 minutes (200kW) or 5 minutes (500kW) to the cars and can accommodate multiple vehicles at once due to their slim, tall, and minimal design. This efficient charging capability sets Gravity apart from traditional curbside chargers that require 8 to 10 hours for a full charge.
Looking ahead, Gravity and Rangr Studio are considering the addition of smart city technologies to the DEAP Trees chargers, including features such as traffic cameras, colored LED street and curbside lighting, 5G connectivity, public WiFi, air quality sensors, and integrated audio and video for public communication. By incorporating these advanced technologies, Gravity aims to create a holistic and efficient charging experience for EV owners. As of now, Gravity has opened its flagship Midtown Manhattan EV charging center to the public, offering charging speeds that are significantly faster than traditional Level 2 curbside chargers and with higher capacity than Tesla’s Superchargers, indicating a promising future for the company in the electric vehicle infrastructure sector.
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