OREGON—The USDA Forest Service successfully deployed a solar-powered electric vehicle charging station at the Wolf Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center to serve its five-vehicle fleet. The center is a residential campus situated in the remote Umpqua National Forest in Oregon’s Cascade Range, which provides free education and job training programs for young adults. Due to the high financial cost of installing electric infrastructure in remote areas with limited access to the grid, the Forest Service chose to purchase a charging system that requires no grid connection.

The solar-powered charger is a standalone device that was installed with no disruption to the environment including no trenching, permitting, construction, electrical work or utility hookups. Better yet, it is 100% renewably powered by the sun through its overhead photovoltaic canopy. The components of the EV charger arrived on a single flatbed trailer for the contractor’s crew to assemble on-site, making for a quick and easy installation process. Additionally, because the charger is transportable, the solar charging station can be redeployed within the national network of Job Corps Centers to support EV charging during times of need.

The charging station’s base provides a platform that vehicles can park on, while the cords can also reach up to five adjacent parking spaces. By using on-site solar technology to charge its vehicles, Wolf Creek will save on fuel costs. And by using electric vehicles, the center reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality.

Currently, the charger supports a Ford Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a Chrysler Pacifica hybrid electric vehicle and two neighborhood electric vehicles. The site also plans to support a Ford F-150 Lightning with the charging station. To enable real-time connectivity with an office near the parking area, the Forest Service plans to install a Wi-Fi range extender to transmit information about the status of charging sessions.

This on-site carbon pollution-free electricity will help the Forest Service meet the federal sustainability requirements in Executive Order 14057 and reduce the federal fleet’s carbon emissions.