Voltpost Air: Turning Streetlights Into EV Chargers for City Drivers

A New Approach to Urban Charging

In crowded cities, one of the biggest hurdles for electric vehicle adoption is not price or performance—it’s charging access. Apartment dwellers and renters often lack home chargers, leaving them dependent on limited and often expensive public stations. A New York–based startup believes it has found a way forward by turning ordinary lampposts into EV chargers.

The new device, called the Voltpost Air, offers a compact and cost-effective alternative that taps into existing streetlight infrastructure. Instead of digging up sidewalks or adding bulky charging stations, Voltpost’s solution repurposes what’s already there. For urban EV drivers, this could mean a dramatic improvement in convenience.

Compact Design With Flexible Capabilities

The Voltpost Air represents the company’s second-generation charger, following the first lamppost-mounted system introduced several years ago. This newer version is smaller, sleeker, and more efficient. Up to two chargers can be installed on a single lamppost, with each unit providing up to 9.6 kilowatts of Level 2 charging power—enough for overnight top-ups or daytime workplace charging.

Drivers can locate nearby chargers and manage payment through a smartphone app. This digital integration streamlines the experience while also allowing cities to monitor usage and plan expansion.

Elevated for Safety and Reliability

A key difference from the first-generation system is placement. Instead of being mounted at the lamppost base, where it was vulnerable to vandalism, weather, and sidewalk clutter, the Voltpost Air is installed about 10 feet (3 meters) above the ground.

The device also comes with a retractable charging cable, which stays neatly coiled when not in use. This avoids dangling wires and reduces tripping hazards for pedestrians, addressing a common concern in urban design. By improving both safety and durability, Voltpost makes public charging more practical for everyday use.

Easy and Affordable Installation

Unlike traditional EV charging stations, which often require weeks of construction and costly utility upgrades, Voltpost chargers can be installed in just a few hours. CEO and cofounder Jeffrey Prosserman explained that installation simply involves pulling a new cable bundle through the lamppost’s existing conduit.

This dramatically lowers costs, estimated at only a few thousand dollars per unit, making it feasible for cities and neighborhoods to roll out chargers quickly. “With millions of streetlights in the United States, converting even a fraction could have a huge positive impact,” Prosserman said.

Early Deployments and Partnerships

The first Voltpost Air unit has already been installed in Brooklyn’s MADE Bush Terminal, with support from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and utility Con Edison. According to Voltpost, the charger will be available to the public before the year ends.

The company’s earlier, ground-mounted chargers are already in service in Oak Park, Illinois, and at the American Center for Mobility near Detroit, Michigan. These early deployments give the company valuable experience as it prepares for broader rollout.

Transforming Urban EV Adoption

As EV sales rise, U.S. cities face increasing pressure to build more charging access. However, the high cost and slow pace of traditional infrastructure make it challenging to keep up. The Voltpost Air provides a scalable and affordable solution, capable of delivering charging to millions of drivers without tearing up city streets.

By rethinking something as ordinary as a lamppost, Voltpost demonstrates how creative design can help solve some of the biggest obstacles to electrification. For apartment dwellers, renters, and urban drivers, this innovation could finally make EV ownership practical.

Conclusion: A Small Device With Big Potential

The Voltpost Air may look simple, but its impact could be significant. With a streamlined design, lower installation costs, and backing from city and state agencies, it represents a fresh approach to EV charging in crowded environments.

If scaled successfully, this technology could help accelerate EV adoption by making charging more accessible and convenient in places where it has been hardest to deploy. For cities eager to reduce emissions and support cleaner transportation, lamppost chargers like the Voltpost Air could become an essential part of the urban landscape.

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