DC Grants $609K to Put EV Chargers on Lamp Posts

Electric vehicle charging is coming to a lamp post near you, and it could solve one of the biggest barriers keeping people from making the switch to electric.

Voltpost, a New York-based startup, just secured a DC government grant to install 16 EV chargers on existing utility poles and lamp posts around the nation's capital. The company shares the $609,500 award with two other firms working to expand charging access across the district.

The innovation is beautifully simple. Instead of building new charging stations from scratch, Voltpost retrofits chargers onto poles already standing on city streets. Workers either thread cables through existing underground conduit or drop power lines down from overhead poles.

That approach saves tens of thousands of dollars per location compared to traditional chargers. No digging trenches, no pouring concrete, no eating up precious sidewalk space. The retractable cords also reduce vandalism from cord cutting.

CEO Jeff Prosserman said his team first noticed the problem in their New York City home base. People wanted to go electric, but convenient and affordable charging simply wasn't available in many neighborhoods. The lack of infrastructure was the roadblock, not the desire to switch.

Since launching in 2021, Voltpost has expanded to seven states including Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California. The company now offers Level 2 chargers that operate on 240-volt power and charge significantly faster than standard outlets.

The DC installations will prioritize neighborhoods with fewer charging options and will cluster near community anchors like libraries, parks, and recreation centers. Voltpost is working with local utility Pepco and city transportation officials to finalize the exact locations.

The Ripple Effect

Making EV charging more accessible and affordable helps more families make the switch from gas to electric. Each new charger represents another household that can realistically consider an electric vehicle without worrying about where they'll plug in overnight.

The timing matters too. Federal EV infrastructure funding faced freezes and uncertainty over the past year, forcing some companies to leave the market entirely. Voltpost weathered the storm by becoming more capital efficient, and now sees local grants like this one as stepping stones while states build out broader charging networks.

The pole-mounted approach also preserves curb space that cities desperately need for parking, loading zones, and pedestrian access. By going vertical instead of horizontal, these chargers fit seamlessly into neighborhoods without requiring major redesigns.

Prosserman says his company isn't going anywhere despite recent industry challenges, and remains focused on delivering the charging infrastructure the country needs to support the electric transition.