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Woodinville council approves off-grid Beam EV ARC charger for city fleet
Summary
The City Council approved purchase of a Beam EV ARC off-grid solar EV charger to support fleet electrification; staff said the $102,000 proposal, with an estimated additional $5,000 for grid tie work and an available 40% tax credit, comes in under the $267,000 chargers allocation in the budget.
Woodinville’s City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 6 to buy a Beam EV ARC off-grid solar electric-vehicle charger to support the city’s two EVs and future fleet electrification. Deputy Mayor James Randolph moved the procurement and the council authorized the city manager to complete purchase and deployment.
City staff said the current capital budget includes $267,000 for EV charger installation and recommended the stand‑alone Beam unit because it avoids expensive trenching and utility upgrades at City Hall. The staff presentation described the system as a packaged, portable solar tracker with battery storage that can be grid‑tied for “trickle charging.” Staff said the configured cost is about $102,000 with an estimated up to $5,000 additional for a grid tie, and that a tax investment credit “offers up to a 40% tax rebate.” The presentation said, with the rebate, the out‑of‑pocket price would be “approximately $61,000.”
Council members asked practical questions about siting, operating costs and charge speed. The city manager said the unit would likely sit in the upper guest parking area for best solar access, that operating costs should be low (staff cited a software fee of about $2.50 per month), and that the system charges at rates comparable to Level 2 chargers when batteries are full. Council members noted the device’s portability and the advantage of avoiding major building electrical upgrades.
The motion approving purchase was moved by Deputy Mayor Randolph and seconded; council approved it by voice vote with no opposition. Deputy Mayor Randolph said the unit “moves us further away from actually being dependent on the things that people point at and say this actually creates greenhouse gas and environmental problems,” and council members praised staff for a creative solution that came in under budget.
Next steps include procurement and site preparation; staff will return with contract details and any required installation permits.
