Solar GEM

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department obtained three electric vehicles through grant funding. These are small maintenance vehicles, each capable of carrying two people and some cargo. Normally, these vehicles plug an electrical outlet to charge the batteries, but to improve the benefits to the environment, they added a solar charging system on one of the vehicles. A solar panel charges the batteries using the sun, eliminating the need to purchase electricity. When this vehicle uses the sun for power, it is pollution free, uses no fossil fuels, and runs essentially for free. The vehicle has decals that say “Zero Emission Electric Car” to educate the public about how solar technology can be used for regular maintenance and patrol activities in the Parks and Recreation Department.