E-move charging station

E-Move Charging Station. Solar Mobility in the City, a project by MM Design

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano has a definite interest in environmental issues. See its promotion of CasaClima, an agency for products and manufacturers that are selected for energy-saving and durable construction techniques and materials. ClimateHouse (as it has been translated) also has a system that certifies buildings according to environmental standards. Bolzano’s latest effort is focused on city transit: electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles will be available to citizens adhering to a sharing programme. The E-Move Charging Station is an essential part of the formula. Coordinated by Centro di Competenza MetaMorphosis, the stations will be equipped with eight photovoltaic panels integrated in the roof to capture the sun’s rays and transform them into electricity. Stations will be positioned in selected locations of the city. MM Design, whose members are among the founders of Centro di Competenza, designed the E-Move to be a non-invasive yet recognisable part of the city-scape. Its wing-like shape gives the solar panels good exposure to the sun. The slanted canopy structure is made of steel girders and fixed to the ground by a cement plinth. On the outside, a water-repellent bench offers passers-by a seat and a free recharge for laptops, cellphones and other portable gadgets. Inside, at the structure’s base, lie the well-protected technical units: inverters and power boxes to recharge vehicles in exchange for payment. User-friendly icons guarantee quick, frustration-free refuelling. By night, the stations become reassuring luminous beacons. All materials are environment- sustaining and tamper-proof. In April 2009, the new E-Move Charging Station was presented to Bolzano’s city administration, councillors and local politicians.
Currently the first prototype is going through a test phase and once this has been completed successfully, the modules are to be marketed throughout Europe. MCT