Detroit Streetlights Now Charge EVs in Hours, Not Weeks

Three streetlights in a Dearborn parking lot are now doing double duty as electric vehicle chargers, and they could change how cities think about EV infrastructure.

The new Voltpost Air devices tap into power already running through streetlight poles, skipping the usual headaches of ripping up sidewalks and rewiring entire city blocks. Installation takes just a few hours instead of weeks or months.

"We're just finding pockets where power already exists and then making it work," says Jeff Prosserman, Voltpost's cofounder and CEO. The company checks existing underground conduits for spare electrical capacity, then pulls a single cable through access points that are already there.

The system works because these are Level 2 chargers, designed for slower charging over several hours. That's perfect for people who park in the same spot during work hours or overnight but don't have home garages with personal chargers.

Traditional EV charging stations require massive construction projects. Crews dig trenches through streets, lay new electrical lines, and repair all the damaged infrastructure afterward. The costs add up quickly, which is why many neighborhoods still lack charging options.

Voltpost mounts its chargers about 10 feet up on poles, well above vandalism range. Each unit can have one or two charging connectors depending on the location. Drivers pay with an app or credit card, press a button, and a cable extends up to 25 feet to reach their vehicle.

When charging finishes, the cable automatically retracts back into the housing. This protects the equipment from weather damage and tampering while keeping sidewalks clear.

The Ripple Effect: About 40 million Americans live in apartments or condos without dedicated parking spots. For them, buying an EV means gambling that they'll find public chargers when they need them. That uncertainty keeps many people driving gas cars even when they want to switch.

By using infrastructure cities have already paid for, Voltpost makes it financially realistic to add thousands of charging points in neighborhoods that conventional chargers would never reach. The faster installation also means less construction disruption for businesses and residents.

Detroit's pilot installation sits next to the Henry Ford Museum, a fitting location for automotive innovation. If the approach scales as planned, the same streetlights that guide people home at night could help charge the cars that get them there.

Cities spend billions maintaining streetlights anyway, and now those poles can do more than illuminate the dark.