“SimpleCharge” – An Electric Vehicle Charging Solution Using Streetlight Poles in Ķīpsala

Status: Realized projects

Testing a new, innovative electric car charging solution using street lighting poles. The Latvian start-up company “SimpleCharge” has created the first electric charging station in street lanterns in the Baltic States, introducing technologies that effectively use existing infrastructure. This approach offers a simpler and cheaper way to develop an electric car charging network, especially in urban environments.

The Significance of the Project for Riga

In Riga and many places in Latvia, electric car charging infrastructure is insufficient, especially in apartment building districts. Without adequate charging options, residents have limited opportunities to switch to more environmentally friendly vehicles.
This project demonstrates how existing street lantern infrastructure can be used to:
✔ Provide a convenient and affordable charging of electric cars;
✔ Reduce the cost of building infrastructure;
✔ Facilitate the transition of residents to sustainable mobility, which helps to reduce CO2 emissions and noise in the urban environment.

Target of the Project

Develop an innovative and efficient electric car charging solution that uses pre-existing infrastructure to increase the availability of the charging network and provide consumers with convenient, accessible electric charging options.

Benefits for Residents

✔ Easy access to charging: power charging options at parking lots using lighting poles without the need for major construction work;
✔ Availability in multi-apartment areas: the solution is also appropriate for places with limited infrastructure;
✔ Green mobility: support for the switch to electric cars helps reduce CO2 emissions and noise;
✔ Easy use: 24/7 charging access via the Eleport app;
✔ Lower costs: Building charging infrastructure was faster and more economical than traditional methods.

Project Activities

✔ Charging facilities were installed in the Pilot area, charging stations provided up to 22 kW of charging capacity using the power available in the lighting network with power balancing;
✔ Preparations, installation and dismantling were carried out at the end of the pilot period;
✔ Residents were educated and the solution was tested using the Eleport application.

Testbed Territory in Riga

The project has been implemented in the living lab of Ķīpsala in Riga, where charging stations were installed on the banks of Zunda, outside the building of the Faculty of Electrical and environmental Engineering of Riga Technical University and on Apes Street.

Project Results

✔ Demonstration on how the existing infrastructure can serve electric car charging, creating new opportunities for urban development;
✔ Fostered the development of the electric car charging network, especially in the urban environment, reducing costs and facilitating the harmonisation process;
✔ Provided more convenient access to electric car charging, which contributes to the development of sustainable mobility and helps to achieve Riga’s climate goals;
✔ Demonstrated the effectiveness of technology that allowed multiple electric cars to be charged simultaneously.

Funding, Duration, and Partners

Funding source: Riga City Council programme “Support for the installation of technologies in the technology pilot areas of the smart city”
Total budget for Riga: EUR 3 345

Implementation Period: 01.01.2022 – 31.12.2023

Project Partners: Riga Municipality Agency “Rīgas gaisma”, “SimpleCharge”

Contact Information

Email: smart@riga.lv

Project Links

Simplecharge offers first electric car charging solution in Baltic States using street lanterns – Labs of Latvia