Is this on-street overhead EV charging arm hot or not?
Dutch company ChargeArm has developed an overhead charging arm that keeps your EV charging cable off the sidewalk – is it a good on-street home charging solution?
Overhead EV charging arm for on-street home charging
People who want to charge their EVs at home yet don’t have driveways or garages – and honestly, that’s most people – need a great on-street home charging solution. But there’s no one-size-fits-all – it depends on a lot of factors.
ChargeArm’s solution is an overhead charging arm that keeps the EV charging cable off the ground. It raises the charging cable up mechanically so it doesn’t become a trip hazard on the sidewalk, or get damaged due to people walking on it or running over it with bikes or strollers.
ChargeArm says its Dutch-made aluminum and stainless steel product’s reach is about 2.3 meters (7.5 feet), it’s lockable, and the installer will also install the Level 2 charging box and cable. The ChargeArm can be paired with all EV chargers, and there’s also a wall mount option.
Here’s how it works in the video below:
ChargeArm claims that its product is “tidy, safe, clean, and available.” I’ve contacted ChargeArm to ask the company how much the product costs, and where it’s being sold, and I will update this story once I hear back, as no dealers online seem to list the price.
Electrek’s Take
Is this a good on-road EV charging solution, or simply a good try?
For people who park and charge their cars on the road, a cable that trails across the sidewalk poses a couple problems. The cable can get damaged, and it’s a safety hazard. So on that front, it’s a solution to get the cable off the ground.
ChargeArm also claims its product is safe, as it’s got no sharp or pinching mechanics that could be a hazard for kids. The charging cable is within the arm, so it’s difficult to steal. All metal parts are earthed.
But you actually have to be able to consistently nab the space in front of your house in order to be able to charge your car. I’ve lived in many houses with on-the-road parking only, and where I parked was luck of the draw. One would probably need to have assigned parking, preferably in a low-traffic area like a cul-de-sac, in order for ChargeArm to be worthwhile. Or, if you do have a driveway but not a garage, this could be a good way to keep your charging cable safe and off the ground.
Chances are, too, that installing a ChargeArm on the street will need planning permission, regardless of which country you live in, so it may or may not be approved.
As for potential vandalism/people thinking it’s clever to try to do chin-ups on your ChargeArm, this is what the company has to say in its FAQs:
Because the ChargeArm is equipped with a limited force gas lift, the arm will automatically move downwards and partially fold inwards when someone pulls on it. The fun is soon over. When the arm is released, it will automatically return to its extended orientation.
This is a good solution for some places, but it’s not a universal solution. There’s a lot of innovative home charging products increasingly coming to market – such as the UK company KerboCharge, which hides your charging cable in a channel in the sidewalk and is currently being piloted by the town of Milton Keynes’ council – so it’s likely a matter of finding the best solution available where you live that best fits your needs.
What do you think of ChargeArm? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: The makers of this Level 1 mobile EV cable want everyone to have smart charging
Photo: ChargeArm
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The BYD “Shenzhen” set sail on its first voyage overseas this week. With 9,200 parking spots, or about enough to fill 20 football fields, BYD’s new car transport ship is now the world’s largest.
BYD’s largest car carrier sets sail for Brazil
BYD’s Shenzhen is on its maiden voyage to Brazil after setting sail on April 27. The vessel is carrying over 7,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs), including electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It’s the largest single batch of NEVs exported from China so far.
The new vessel is BYD’s fourth car transport ship and the world’s largest, capable of carrying 9,000 vehicles. According to the company, that’s enough to fill about 20 football fields.
BYD launched its first car carrier, the Explorer No 1, in January 2024. It has already completed several trips to Germany, Spain, and Brazil.
Its second, the BYD Changzhou, set sail in December 2024, followed by the Hefei earlier this year. All three vessels can carry up to 7,000 vehicles, making the Shenzhen the largest so far.
The Shenzhen is named after the automaker’s hometown and demonstrates “BYD’s firm determination to promote sustainable development in Brazil.”
BYD is preparing to launch two more vessels, the Changsha and Xi’an. The Changsha is expected to launch soon, while the Xi’an was introduced on April 2.
The new car carriers will help accelerate BYD’s aggressive overseas expansion. In the first three months of 2025, the company sold over 206,000 NEVs overseas, more than double the number it sold last year.
BYD sells a wide range of vehicles in Brazil, including the low-cost Dolphin Mini, starting at around $20,000 (99,800 BRL). In October, it launched its first hybrid pickup truck, the Shark, starting at 379,800 BTL ($66,900).
Brazil is only one overseas market that BYD is targeting. BYD’s sales are expected to double in Europe in 2025, with significant growth in other key regions like Southeast Asia, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea, to name a few.
Source: BYD
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‘Tesla homes’ in a Houston neighborhood where all the homes have Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls went for sale.
7 out of the 11 homes have reportedly already sold.
Tesla neighborhood is a term that is being used for new developments where all the homes integrate all or part of Tesla’s power ecosystem, including the Powerwall home battery pack.
The best example is a giant new development project in Austin, Texas, by Brookfield Asset Management and Dacra in which up to 12,000 new homes are to be built and offering Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls.
However, since the announcement, it looks like only some of the homes in the new neighborhood have Tesla energy systems.
In 2022, Tesla also announced a similar project in Las Vegas.
A year later, the company claimed to have deployed “over 600 solar neighborhoods” worldwide, with a total capacity exceeding 100 MW.
One such ‘Tesla neighborhood’ is a small block of 11 townhouse homes featuring Tesla solar roofs and Powerwalls in Houston, Texas.
The homes were recently completed and went on sale, starting at $544,900.
Here are some pictures from the listings:
Utopia Homes, the developer behind the project, described the properties (via Chron):
Step into modern elegance expertly crafted by Utopia Homes. This property showcases groundbreaking Tesla Solar Roof Shingles and Power Wall technology, ensuring 100% energy security and eliminating electric bills for a truly sustainable lifestyle.
The house has proved popular according to the real estate agents, with 7 out of 11 homes already sold.
As we recently reported, Tesla’s solar roofs have proven to be a more expensive and niche product than the company previously presented.
Tesla has largely stopped discussing it, but it is still being deployed through some third-party installers, such as in this case, on new homes.
However, its Powerwall product remains a very popular solution for homeowners seeking greater energy independence and protection against outages, which have been a frequent problem in Texas.
More homeowners are turning to generators, and alternatives like home battery packs are gaining popularity.
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Canadian electric propulsion specialist Vision Marine continues to graduate beyond advanced outboard motors into a provider of all-electric boats. This month, Vision introduced two new electric pontoon boats – the 12-passenger V24 and 15-passenger V30, each capable of a range up to 90 nautical miles.
Vision Marine Technologies ($VMAR) is a Canadian technology company with over 25 years of experience in the marine industry. The company made waves (literally) by introducing its E-Motion turnkey powertrain system, which it has since integrated into a catamaran speedboat, which set a speed record of 109 mph in 2022.
Since then, Vision has introduced six hp two-cruiser vessels – the Fantail 217 and Volt 180, each capable of transporting 10 passengers via its E-Motion technology. Most recently, Vision Marine has integrated the full power of its 180 hp electric powertrain technology into two additional vessels, both electric pontoon boats.
Earlier this month, the company officially began sales of the Vision V24 and V30, which you can view below.
Vision Marine brings power and range to electric pontoons
According to Vision Marine Technologies, orders for its two new electric pontoon boats are now open, and they are touting the same E-Motion technology that put the company on the map a few years ago.
The first model is the V24, a 12-passenger electric pontoon that is 24′ 8″ in length and has 180 hp. The ultra-quiet E-Motion powertrain is powered by a standard 43 kWh marine battery pack, offering 40 nautical miles (46 miles) of all-electric range on a single charge. For added range, Vision sells a version of the electric pontoon with a second battery pack, totaling 86 kWh and delivering up to 90 nautical miles (104 miles) of range.
While the V24 offers more of a classic attempt at the pontoon boat, Vision’s additional new vessel, the all-electric V30, is a tad sportier and provides room for more passengers aboard (15). This 30′ vessel features the same E-Motion powertrain options, complete with the same two battery configurations to offer the same ranges as the V24.
However, the V30 has additional features such as 4 x 6.5″ interior speakers and cool-touch seats. Both models feature an integrated onboard charger that supports both 120- 240V (30 to 50 amps) for seamless charging, no matter the dock plug while moored.
The Vision V24 starts at $99,995 for the standard battery pack version, while the V30 starts at a higher price of $139,995. As previously mentioned, both electric pontoon boats are available to order today.
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