Public Off-Grid Renewable EV Charging
Current/OS Partners Involved:
Schneider Electric, World4Solar, Enteligent
Location
Cherokee, North Carolina – United States
Setup
2026
Context
The Cherokee Central Schools project delivers an islanded EV charging microgrid that combines solar generation, battery energy storage, DC/AC EV charging, power conversion, protection, and microgrid controls.
The solution provides resilient EV charging even during grid outages while avoiding lengthy utility interconnection timelines, costly service upgrades, and trenching.
The project demonstrates how distributed energy resources and DC technologies can provide a faster, more resilient, and flexible approach to electrification for communities where traditional grid infrastructure presents challenges.
Implementation
• Modular solar carport integrating 50 kW of solar generation and 144 kWh of battery energy storage.
• Two 20 kW DC chargers and eight 11 kW AC chargers, supporting both fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
• Islanded microgrid architecture capable of providing EV charging independently of the utility grid.
• Integrated AC/DC conversion, DC/DC conversion, DC protection, EV charging and microgrid controls, including a 15-inch HMI.
• System integration, commissioning and project-management support delivered through collaboration between Schneider Electric, World4Solar and project partners.
Benefits
• Provides self-reliant, resilient EV charging, including during utility outages.
• Avoids waiting for a utility interconnection.
• Avoids a costly utility-service upgrade and eliminates the need for trenching.
• Enables faster permitting and deployment than a conventional grid-connected installation.
• Expands community access to clean, affordable transportation energy while providing greater flexibility in how locally generated power is used.
• Provides a real-world platform for learning about DC architecture, customer requirements and partner-led delivery before scaling the solution.
Quote
“The Cherokee project shows what becomes possible when customers, technology providers and partners work together around a clear challenge. We created a solution that improves resilience, avoids costly grid upgrades and provides a practical pathway to cleaner transportation.”
Chris Evanich, New Energy Landscape Commercial Leader, Schneider Electric.
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