AT&T and Goal Zero Deploying Solar Powered Charging Stations for Mobile Devices In New York
For as amazing as our mobile devices are, their battery life is a joke. Most of us can’t make it through a whole day (or in cases, more than a few hours) without having to plug in. Solar charger company Goal Zero, in collaboration with AT&T and Brooklyn-based design studio Pensa, are developing solar charging stations designed to offer passersby a convenient charging station that gets it juice only from the sun.
“We’re excited to team up with AT&T and Pensa to help make New York a little greener and solar power a little more accessible,” said Joe Atkin, President and CEO of Goal Zero.” His company’s solution, called Street Charge, enjoyed a trial run last summer in New York and features USB ports and charging tips for people to connect to, and the stations store power from the sun in lithium batteries to keep the flow of power going all the time.
For Pensa’s part, the company wanted to create modular stations that offered people a sort of gathering place in addition to a charging station, where people can “hang out and recharge”. Further, there are opportunities for street vendors and the like to set up shop near the stations.
It’s also worth noting that Street Charge was inspired by a disaster. "AT&T Street Charge is a direct outgrowth of Superstorm Sandy when AT&T powered New York City's distribution centers with commercial generators and pop-up cellular service," reads an AT&T press release. "New Yorkers who had lost power for days or longer flocked to the centers seeking a charge and a way to communicate to the outside world."
Street Charge kiosks are debuting today and will crop up at various locations around New York’s five boroughs over the course of the summer.
“We’re excited to team up with AT&T and Pensa to help make New York a little greener and solar power a little more accessible,” said Joe Atkin, President and CEO of Goal Zero.” His company’s solution, called Street Charge, enjoyed a trial run last summer in New York and features USB ports and charging tips for people to connect to, and the stations store power from the sun in lithium batteries to keep the flow of power going all the time.
For Pensa’s part, the company wanted to create modular stations that offered people a sort of gathering place in addition to a charging station, where people can “hang out and recharge”. Further, there are opportunities for street vendors and the like to set up shop near the stations.
It’s also worth noting that Street Charge was inspired by a disaster. "AT&T Street Charge is a direct outgrowth of Superstorm Sandy when AT&T powered New York City's distribution centers with commercial generators and pop-up cellular service," reads an AT&T press release. "New Yorkers who had lost power for days or longer flocked to the centers seeking a charge and a way to communicate to the outside world."
Street Charge kiosks are debuting today and will crop up at various locations around New York’s five boroughs over the course of the summer.
