Whelp, that was fast. Just one year ago the Brooklyn-based startup Voltpost installed its first EV charging station on a lampost in Chicago. For EV drivers without a home charging station, lamppost chargers provide an extra layer of localized, convenient access to a public charger. Now Voltpost is on the move with new partnerships, new deployments, and an in-garage variant for drivers with garages, too. Lamppost EV Charging, Coming Soon To A Pole Near You EV drivers, if you’re in New York City stop by the MADE Bush Terminal innovation center in Brooklyn for a free charge courtesy of Voltpost. The company has a Voltpost Air charger on site, and it’s now open to the public for a free charge during Climate Week. “The charger was activated with support from NYCEDC, NYSERDA, and Con Edison, as part of BATWorks’ Pilots at BAT program which helps climate tech companies test and scale solutions that advance the city’s clean energy transition,” Voltpost explained in an email to CleanTechnica. Lampposts are just one of the deployment options eyeballed by Voltpost. The idea is to leverage existing street infrastructure, including grid connections, to open up more opportunities for curbside EV charging. Alongside lampposts, other kinds of utility poles and pedestals are in the running. Voltpost also notes that the Air charger can be mounted on metal, wooden or concrete poles as well as decorative infrastructure. They can be installed in parking lots, too. The advantage of leveraging in-place infrastructure for EV charging is clear, with Voltpost citing a “matter of hours” for installation, compared to days for sites that require new trenches. More EV Charging Stations For New York Voltpost’s network is growing. In a press announcement earlier today, Voltpost listed a total of 14 new Air Pole Level 2 charging ports in New York. “The rollout includes 3 Duo (dual-port) chargers in Albany, 3 in Saratoga Springs, and 1 in the Village of Cold Spring,” Voltpost explains. The company also offers a single-port option. The Cold Spring connection is particularly interesting because it highlights how EV charging stations can slip into existing streetscapes without disrupting other values, such as historic preservation. “Voltpost’s approach lets us offer residents and visitors reliable EV charging within our historic district,” Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen E. Foley emphasized in a press statement. “We’re glad to be one of the communities leading work to marry respect for the past with responsibility for the future,” Foley added somewhat eloquently. In addition to the three new cities, Voltpost also has established a footprint in Brooklyn and in Westchester County, which is just over the border from New York City, along with the upstate community of Glens Falls. The new chargers are partly funded by NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and supported by the AT&T wireless network. A bespoke Voltpost app enables drivers to find an available charger and monitor their session in real time. Of note, the Voltpost model also protects against the possibility of vandalism or weather damage. The Voltpost Air is a modular system that mounts about 10 feet off the ground, out of easy reach from prying hands, with an automatic retractable cable system. More Charging Stations For The USA, But Why? The New York deployments are just the tip of a growing iceberg. Voltpost lists active projects under way in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, and Washington, DC, with other states in the pipeline. Voltpost is also among the many (many) EV charging stakeholders that have continued to build out the nation’s public charging station network hand over fist despite last year’s sharp U-turn in federal energy policy. EV sales crashed hard after the $7,500 federal tax credit prematurely died on September 30 of 2025, leading Ford and General Motors to put the brakes on their electrification plans. Still, the charging station activity persists, leading one to wonder what’s the motivation? The answer is pretty obvious. In past years, drivers handled a spike in the price of gasoline by driving less, because there was no alternative. Now gas prices are going through the roof on account of US President Donald Trump’s unforced war in Iran, and this time around there is an alternative. Many drivers are still handling the debacle by driving less, but other are beginning to search for EV options, and those options have improved significantly over the past five years. EV battery technology has continued to evolve, bringing the up-front price of an EV down while also adding more miles of driving per charge. Auto industry analysts also point out that in today’s environment, saving the planet is not the primary motive for buying an electric vehicle. Despite their higher up-front cost, the TCO (total cost of ownership) calculation for EVs is typically lower than conventional cars, partly on account of reduced fuel costs and partly on account of simplification on the maintenance side. EVs don’t need motor oil, for example, eliminating routine trips to the shop. The Missing Link Public EV charging stations are the missing link. Drivers with a driveway or garage can take advantage of home charging options, and surveys show that the majority of EV drivers prefer to charge at home. After all, what could be more convenient? However, millions of renters and other households can’t charge up at home. That untapped market for EV sales has been been a giant bottleneck of epic proportions, and it is about to bust wide open as the public EV charging network becomes more accessible and reliable. With scale-up potential in mind, Voltpost has positioned itself as a blueprint for other cities to follow, particularly in regards to the MADE charging station. “This inaugural deployment establishes a pioneering model for lamppost charging and offers a blueprint for how cities across the country can repurpose existing infrastructure to rapidly expand EV access without disruptive construction or costly grid upgrades,” Voltpost explains. In related news, in July the company announced a new partnership with the leading EV charging station installation and maintenance firm InCharge Energy. The partnership will initially launch in New York, Connecticut, and California. “InCharge Energy will serve as Voltpost’s preferred partner with certified field teams handling on-site installation and ongoing service and maintenance,” Voltpost explains. “The partnership delivers a seamless, single point of contact for the full lifecycle of each charger.” The partnership also supports charging station reliability through InCharge’s InControl™ management software, which powers the “Voltpost Care” system. The system supports proactive maintenance actions that reduce charging station downtime, another key improvement in the charging station experience. Image: The US startup Voltpost is scaling up its EV charging solution, deploying lampposts and other existing infrastructure for modular, rapid installation (screenshot courtesy of Voltpost via Vimeo).