Extending a product’s life cycle is a boost to everyone’s life cycle, and finding these new solutions is fundamental to Enel X’s ongoing contributions and commitment to a circular economy and to creating added value for companies, cities and individuals. For Enel X, it is not just enough to envision what a circular economy may look like from the company boardroom, rather it is the design of tangible tools that incorporate sustainable methods and lead to improved outcomes to create added value for companies, cities and individuals.

 

Innovative technology shouldn’t be just a good idea for the environment, it must lead to an improved quality of life and financial savings as well.

In planning a path to the future, Enel X’s latest innovation, JuicePole, answers a city’s need for open-air EV charging options. These purposefully designed charging solutions are strategically placed throughout urban areas for the convenient use of electric car drivers, whether for reserved use in designated parking areas of local government offices or private organizations or for the general public in easily accessed mobile spots, such as commercial shopping areas, business centers, apartment developments, and community parking areas.

The advantages of JuicePole are multifold and include its high-power dual socket AC output system, which allows simultaneous power up for two cars and battery charge up to 40% of the battery level in just 30 minutes. A hi-def, high-contrast and high-visibility 10-inch colour LED screen encourages efficient interaction when charging, and RFID authentication technology enables customer identification via RFID smart card.  Designed to be sleek, modern and available for frequent use by all electric vehicles, JuicePole’s iconic look blends well in urban environments. Anti-theft technology protects against vandalism and ensures ports are maintained regularly with ease. Recharge status and maintenance status is easily identified. Finally, drivers communicate in real time with JuicePole’s command center via GPRS/UMTS.The extended life cycle business model of Enel X’’s JuicePole renewable parts  has already been introduced in Italy and Spain, with Latin American forthcoming.

In developing JuicePole, Enel X was committed to satisfying the foundations of a circular economy’s business model by meeting four of the five principles  – sustainable inputs, product as service, sharing and life cycle extension. How? Almost 90% of the energy used to build JuicePoles comes from renewable resources, and recycles and reuses all still-functioning parts for maintenance. Enel X offers the JuicePole platform and infrastructure as a resource to outside operators so that they, in turn, can make charging services available through their own apps. Likewise, the platform can be shared with all users of the public charging service.

Recently, Enel X began working with Enel X Romania to install 34 charging points for electric vehicles in Bucharest, as part of their strategic plans to expand their charging infrastructure and JuicePole’s footprint by offering their customizable EV charging devices to international destinations.

A collaboration with Vestas Wind Systems, a global frontrunner in developing sustainable energy results, was recently approved as well, allowing Enel X to further employ their extensive resources to advance innovative solutions in energy transition. These collaborations are perfect examples of how extending a product’s life cycle leads to a more sustainable future, for all.