Long Beach Adds Solar EV Chargers That Need No Grid

Long Beach, California just found a way to power electric vehicles without adding stress to the electrical grid.

The city is adding six off-grid solar EV chargers from San Diego-based Beam Global to power its growing fleet of electric vehicles. Four units will support city fleet operations, while two more will serve Long Beach Airport's vehicles.

Here's what makes these chargers special: they generate and store their own electricity onsite using solar panels and batteries. No trenching required. No construction delays. No electrical upgrades needed.

Each unit can power up to six Level 2 charging stations simultaneously, delivering enough juice for 265 electrical miles daily. The systems can even be moved and redeployed if the city's charging needs change over time.

Long Beach says the investment helps lower operating costs, supports its push toward fleet electrification, and cuts vehicle emissions. By going off-grid, the city bypasses the typical headaches of adding charging infrastructure like lengthy construction timelines and engineering projects.

Beam Global CEO Desmond Wheatley points out that fleet operators switching to EVs already see reduced fuel and maintenance costs. "They get to deploy EV charging where they need it without going through lengthy design, engineering, construction, and electrical projects," he said.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about one California city going green. Long Beach joins a growing number of municipalities finding creative ways to expand EV infrastructure without overwhelming aging electrical grids.

The flexible, plug-and-play nature of these solar chargers means other cities facing similar infrastructure challenges now have a proven model to follow. As California pushes toward ambitious climate goals, solutions that work around grid limitations become increasingly valuable.

Airports and municipal fleets across the state are watching closely. The technology proves you don't need massive infrastructure overhauls to make the switch to electric vehicles work.

Long Beach is showing that smart infrastructure choices can make clean transportation accessible today, not years down the road.