When Gary Ball of Candler-based Balls Machine and Manufacturing Company was approached by BioWheels Responsible Transportation Solutions (RTS), a local renewable energy and alternative transportation start-up, to build the structural components for the innovative Brightfields™ solar power generating electric vehicle charging stations, he didn’t hesitate to say yes.
“We’ve been looking to grow our capacity to support the needs of the renewable energy sector for years,” says Ball. “Manufacturing durable electric vehicle charging stations that integrate solar power production is the type of project we can get excited about.”
He’s not the only one excited. Early this year, BioWheels RTS was awarded a sizable grant from the North Carolina Green Business Fund—a fund established by the State to encourage green sector growth. The young company has forged public/private partnerships with Asheville City, and Buncombe County and UNC Asheville. The results of these partnerships will be four solar power generating Brightfield™ electric vehicle charging stations installed throughout Asheville.
“Our vision is build strong community partnerships to get the infrastructure on the ground that will prepare our region for electric vehicle ownership,” says Matt Johnson, president of BioWheels RTS and owner of the local BioWheels cycling shop. “And we’re determined to show that we can fuel electric vehicles with solar power. When we harvest our fuel locally from sun from locally manufactured charging stations our fuel dollars stay in the local economy.”
Work on the first Brightfield™ Charging Station has begun in the Asheville City Public Administration Building parking lot on the corner of Charlotte and Eagle Street. The station will generate 5 KW of solar energy annually and be equipped with 3 electric vehicle chargers. Additional stations will be constructed at Land of Sky Regional Council off Leicester Hwy, on the UNCA campus, and at the BioWheels store on Cox Ave.
“With our Brightfields™, we’re challenging folks to think beyond coal and nuclear energy and seize the very real opportunity to drive on sunshine,” says Johnson. “These 5 KW installs are just the beginning. We’ve determined how many megawatts of solar power we need to generate to meet NC’s forecasted electric vehicle demand and we’re working state-wide with the renewable energy sector and our utilities to get that renewable energy on the grid.”
BioWheels RTS is an example of what Matt Raker, VP of Entrepreneurship & AdvantageGreen for economic development group AdvantageWest, is working hard to foster in WNC.
“The region recently contracted with Angelou Economics to identify our best opportunities for economic growth and job creation. The in-depth study concluded that renewable energy and alternative transportation are the two most promising sectors for WNC,” says Raker. “As a result, the region has formed Evolve Energy Partnerships, which will work to leverage our existing and emerging clean tech expertise to bring economic growth opportunities and jobs to the mountains.”
And that makes Gary Ball happy. “If we’re going to keep our manufacturing tradition alive then we need to adapt. Growing our renewable energy and alternative transportation sectors means jobs in my machine shop,” he says.
“Everything BioWheels RTS does is about building a more durable and resilient WNC,” says Johnson. “We’re fortunate to have so many talented people here in our community willing and able to role up their sleeves and get to work creating a desirable future today.”
“We’ve been looking to grow our capacity to support the needs of the renewable energy sector for years,” says Ball. “Manufacturing durable electric vehicle charging stations that integrate solar power production is the type of project we can get excited about.”
He’s not the only one excited. Early this year, BioWheels RTS was awarded a sizable grant from the North Carolina Green Business Fund—a fund established by the State to encourage green sector growth. The young company has forged public/private partnerships with Asheville City, and Buncombe County and UNC Asheville. The results of these partnerships will be four solar power generating Brightfield™ electric vehicle charging stations installed throughout Asheville.
“Our vision is build strong community partnerships to get the infrastructure on the ground that will prepare our region for electric vehicle ownership,” says Matt Johnson, president of BioWheels RTS and owner of the local BioWheels cycling shop. “And we’re determined to show that we can fuel electric vehicles with solar power. When we harvest our fuel locally from sun from locally manufactured charging stations our fuel dollars stay in the local economy.”
Work on the first Brightfield™ Charging Station has begun in the Asheville City Public Administration Building parking lot on the corner of Charlotte and Eagle Street. The station will generate 5 KW of solar energy annually and be equipped with 3 electric vehicle chargers. Additional stations will be constructed at Land of Sky Regional Council off Leicester Hwy, on the UNCA campus, and at the BioWheels store on Cox Ave.
“With our Brightfields™, we’re challenging folks to think beyond coal and nuclear energy and seize the very real opportunity to drive on sunshine,” says Johnson. “These 5 KW installs are just the beginning. We’ve determined how many megawatts of solar power we need to generate to meet NC’s forecasted electric vehicle demand and we’re working state-wide with the renewable energy sector and our utilities to get that renewable energy on the grid.”
BioWheels RTS is an example of what Matt Raker, VP of Entrepreneurship & AdvantageGreen for economic development group AdvantageWest, is working hard to foster in WNC.
“The region recently contracted with Angelou Economics to identify our best opportunities for economic growth and job creation. The in-depth study concluded that renewable energy and alternative transportation are the two most promising sectors for WNC,” says Raker. “As a result, the region has formed Evolve Energy Partnerships, which will work to leverage our existing and emerging clean tech expertise to bring economic growth opportunities and jobs to the mountains.”
And that makes Gary Ball happy. “If we’re going to keep our manufacturing tradition alive then we need to adapt. Growing our renewable energy and alternative transportation sectors means jobs in my machine shop,” he says.
“Everything BioWheels RTS does is about building a more durable and resilient WNC,” says Johnson. “We’re fortunate to have so many talented people here in our community willing and able to role up their sleeves and get to work creating a desirable future today.”