Flora
Flora is a public electric vehicle charging station powered by plants. This concept stemmed from a simple problem, being that EVs aren’t actually as “green” as we think they are. Flora solves this problem by using renewable biomass energy (from photosynthesis) to generate the electricity needed to charge electric cars.
Flora
"A step toward a more environmentally efficient future."
Flora is a public electric vehicle charging station powered by plants that is intended to make EVs more environmentally efficient by reducing CO2 emissions. Despite Flora being similar in size to a traditional charging station, it has more capabilities. Not only can Flora charge a car, but its power can also be accessed regardless of time of day or weather, unlike stations that are powered by wind or solar power. Users would be able to find Flora in areas where charging stations are typically located (such as parking lots and garages), as a substitute for existing stations. Each station is equipped with two charging cords and a logo impression under each handle that allows for users to pay for their charge through the friendly and intuitive Flora app.
This concept stemmed from a simple problem, being that EVs aren’t actually as “green” as we think they are. At this point in time, most charging points in the US and around the world source their power from the grid, whose power is generated by the burning of coal. Burning coal releases CO2 into the atmosphere, and because of this, electric vehicles are not much greener than gasoline-powered cars in the long run. With a whopping 40 million charging points predicted worldwide by 2040, this is a big problem that can be addressed using biomass renewable energy from plants. Plants generate organic matter through photosynthesis, some of which is used for their own growth, and what’s left over is turned into electron matter in the soil.
Through the use of electrodes and circuit boards, these electrons can be converted into usable electricity! Although this is a newer energy source and isn’t currently widely used, it poses a unique solution to the CO2 emissions on behalf of electric vehicle chargers, because it eliminates the need to burn coal in order to charge them, while cleaning up some of the CO2 that is already in the atmosphere.
Flora presents the unique opportunity to change how we think about electric vehicles and sustainability. By utilizing biomass, we can leverage what we know about renewable energy to compete against other electric charging stations in a smart and efficient way, without having to provide all of the infrastructure needed to power charging points from the grid. Flora also provides the opportunity to bring this renewable energy to other, less developed countries that may lack consistent power, providing users with a means of transportation and an easy way to charge their vehicles.
This design process began by looking at existing electric vehicle charging stations that were designed for both public and home use. This was followed by the creation of three different design languages to explore concept through form: "organic simplicity," emphasizing soft, sweeping, and satisfying shapes and curves; "dynamic sculpture," emphasizing sleek, ergonomic, and elegant qualities; and "flat geometry," emphasizing modern, planar, and robust shapes and edges. As the geometric form presented the most opportunity, this design was carried forward and underwent several changes during the refinement stage.
Ultimately, this form would become Flora, an imposing and robust, yet elegant and beautiful replacement for existing car chargers. It incorporates two charging handles and cords that allow for dual charging, a hexagonal concrete inner structure to provide strength and house electrodes and other electricity components, durable plastic trapezoidal plates to decorate the exterior, and plants, of course, which would be specific to certain climates and regions, in order to maximize power generated.
As Flora is all about creating a more environmentally efficient future, the purpose of the Flora app is to incentivize users to utilize this charging station as opposed to a traditional one. In order to do this, the app comes with a statistic feature that displays how consumers have helped the environment with each Flora visit. This screen is equipped with information regarding a user’s most recent visit, how much coal they’ve saved over the course of the past six months, and their average fill up time.
The Flora app is also here to help by offering a tap-to-pay feature to make the user’s experience simple and easy. The user will simply open the app, locate the Flora hexagon, tap their phone to it, and complete their payment within the app. By using Flora stations and the app, users can be excited about doing their part to keep the planet clean, and feel even better about their choice to drive an electric vehicle.
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