Together with LG and Skyhook, We’re Bringing Solar-Powered EV Charging to Aspen Community School. Here’s why
The answers have changed over the years, but one of the questions society most loves to ask children has stayed the same: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Today’s environment is one in which electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, renewable energy installations are popping up everywhere, and smart technology is embedded everywhere we live, work, and play.
When children think about the kind of career they’ll pursue, there will inevitably be more and more interest in working in careers that contribute to this cleaner, electrified, smarter world—and we want to help them develop that interest early.
In December 2024, together with Skyhook Solar and LG, we began powering free EV charging at Aspen Community School in Aspen, Colorado. Here’s a closer look at that project and why we’re so excited to have played a part in bringing it to life.
The origins of Aspen Community School’s EV charging program
Since 2020, Aspen Community School has had a single EV charging port on-location, powered by a small solar panel provided by Skyhook Solar, which is also based in Colorado.
In 2024, Skyhook wanted to upgrade the infrastructure at the school, replacing the existing solar-powered charging station with an upgraded prototype that can charge two vehicles simultaneously.
With charging hardware supplied by LG and the solar tech handled by Skyhook’s team, all that was missing was intelligent EV charging software to provide a great charging experience to drivers and optimize energy usage throughout charging sessions. When we found out about the project, we were delighted to donate our technology to bring it to life.
Using EV charging sessions as teachable moments
One of the elements that most excite us about this project is that students at Aspen Community School will get to explore the technologies involved in this EV charging installation as part of their education.
On the EV charging side, students and teachers at the school will engage with our platform to understand the data related to EV charging sessions, like energy consumption overall, per session, etc. And with the project also making use of our load management technology, there should also be some great opportunities for the school to dig into the ways that technology can help make more efficient use of energy to power our electric future.
EV charging is just one side of it. Solar technology provided by Skyhook and the charging hardware provided by LG both offer their own opportunities for exploring different dimensions of sustainability and sustainable technology.
For students and teachers alike, we hope this all comes together to make electrification into the sort of hands-on subject that gets them excited to learn about the amazing tech that our society is building itself on.
A reminder that the future of clean technology is bright
The companies involved in this project all operate with the recognition that electrifying transportation is necessary and must be accomplished quickly to help reduce the ongoing harms associated with burning fossil fuels.
But this initiative in particular is also a great reminder that clean technology isn’t just a means to an end. As Dennis Carter, Head of US EV charger sales for LG, said, this collaboration is “a great opportunity to demonstrate how sustainable solutions can enhance community spaces and workplaces.”
We wholeheartedly agree, and we’re delighted to get to play an ongoing role in keeping these chargers going—for the drivers who use them to top up their batteries, and for the students and teachers who use them to develop and foster a love of science, hands-on learning, and sustainable technology.
ASC students, we hope to receive some CVs from you someday.
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Written by
Rob Côté
Marketing Communications Manager, SWTCH
