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    Beam gains Homeland Security grant to fund off-grid EV Charging in Puerto Rico

    Nov. 28, 2022
    Each Beam system can be deployed without the need for construction, electrical work or utility connections. The systems are flood proof to 9.5 feet and wind rated to 125 mph
    Image credit Beam Global
    Beam Global Ev Arc 2020 Emergency Power Panel 07 16x9 1 6384e3a3d6d0b

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is funding the deployment of Beam EV ARC off-grid EV charging systems in Puerto Rico to charge government fleet vehicles and improve disaster preparedness and energy resiliency.

    The systems are being purchased through the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). The Beam EV ARC systems are powered by solar energy, which is generated and stored by the systems. This means, the systems are intended to be unaffected by utility grid failures.

    Federal data from utility companies and the North American Electric Reliability Corp. shows that utility grid outages have increased by 64% over the last 10 years compared to the past decade. A total of 83% of the outages were due to weather-related events.

    Puerto Rico is especially prone to massive outages, considering its vulnerable grid and the threat of tropical storms. Hurricane Fiona did a vast amount of damage earlier this year.

    Each Beam system can be deployed without the need for construction, electrical work or utility connections. The systems are flood proof to 9.5 feet and wind rated to 125 mph. The systems have already successfully survived higher wind speeds in the field.

    “Governments and companies are becoming increasingly reliant on electricity for fuel as the adoption of EVs is rapidly accelerating. Our products get them the charging infrastructure they need rapidly and scalably, and importantly we provide a source of fuel for their EVs which continues to operate during blackouts,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO at Beam Global. “The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters calls for heightened disaster preparedness. Beam products are designed and engineered to perform in extreme conditions. There is an increasing recognition that 25% of EV charging infrastructure should be off-grid so that it continues to operate during centralized grid failure. These Puerto Rico deployments are an excellent example of the steps the U.S. government is making to provide the beginnings of a strategic electric reserve (SES) to match our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.”

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.