SunPower Corp. is teaming up with Wallbox, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, so that SunPower customers can opt to install a Wallbox home EV charger at the same time as their solar and/or storage system installation. SunPower will also act as a preferred solar and storage provider and EV charger installation provider for Wallbox customers. SunPower will start installing EV chargers for new customers in Southern California this fall and expects to expand its offering to additional regions and states throughout 2021.
Series modules and work seamlessly with their EverVolt battery storage — all warrantied by one of America’s most trusted brands.SunPower expects to provide EV charging station installation services for Wallbox customers in regions where SunPower has installers and plans to expand its installation capacity in North America. EV charging customers without solar will also have the opportunity to add solar or storage to their homes through SunPower.
Wallbox’s Pulsar Plus chargers come with a standard J1772 EV plug, an app allowing scheduled charging, and power sharing for two or more chargers with adjustable current output, making them a fit for all EV models.
Meanwhile, SunPower and Wallbox are currently exploring options for developing products and experiences to further integrate solar power with EV. Current discussions include backup power solutions and incorporating Wallbox’s pioneer bi-directional charging technology into SunPower systems.
Consumer adoption of EVs and solar energy is growing rapidly. Deloitte predicts that EV sales are expected to grow from 2.5 million in 2020 to more than 31 million by 2030, accounting for approximately 32 percent of new car sales. Following record growth in 2020, Wood Mackenzie predicts residential solar installations will grow 13 percent in 2021 alone. With strong consumer overlap — nearly 40 percent of EV drivers also have solar — SunPower and Wallbox will help meet growing demand for these products by integrating EV infrastructure into solar equipped homes.
“Making charging at-home easier and less expensive has always been core to Wallbox’s vision. Our alliance with SunPower will further enable us to achieve this goal and support rising EV adoption,” said Enric Asunción, Wallbox CEO and co-founder. “Combining EV charging with solar power is the natural next progression for our two industries and will make EV’s even more sustainable, not only benefiting our consumers but the planet.”
-- Solar Builder magazine