From the start, newer cities consider installing connected parking meters, smart lighting and EV charging stations, but it is more difficult to upgrade established locations. The electric transport technology company Gogoro has now found a solution with its smart parking meters. Using portable power packs, it is powering off-grid parking meters while maintaining their connection to urban infrastructure, according to an article from the online magazine Slash Gear.
Already deployed in New Taipei City, Taiwan, the meters were built with Shengming Technology and the first units are expected to come online in early 2022. Around 6,000 more units will be installed across Taiwan by the end of 2022, says the article. The units do not require a new electricity connection to be installed. Inside, a Gogoro battery pack can be slotted into place to power the wireless radios and other technology. This already facilitates paid parking but could be developed for tracking real-time parking density statistics or flagging where autonomous vehicles can be directed when not in use.
Of the meters’ performance, Gogoro reports in the article that they “can utilize Gogoro smart batteries that are no longer optimized for high-performance vehicles, but can still be utilized as a powerful energy source.”
