There are a lot of companies out there with photovoltaic solar parking canopies, and plenty of others that have EV chargers, in fact there are plenty that offer both. But they’re pretty much all systems that require new construction. ProtekPark Solar this week launched a new, modular PV system with an electric vehicle (EV) charger, REVIVE. The system is designed to integrate into existing structures like canopies and shopping cart corrals.

The Cincinnati-based company has developed modular solar carport structures in the past that have been used at a number of locations across the country, including the Cincinnati Zoo. It's systems are being used by the military—it's currently installing a 33.5 kilowatt carport array at Fort Benning, for instance. And it’s installed a 1.3 megawatts carport at the North Little Rock Veterans Affairs parking lot. But the retrofit kit is something that’s new to the market.

ProtekPark is launching the new system as the solar industry heads into the busy conference season and is attending two conferences this week. Until yesterday the company was at the ICSC RECon, a real estate conference in Las Vegas. And yesterday it set up its booth at the Joint Engineer Training Conference (JETC) in San Diego, which ends May 24. JETC is put on by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and offers companies a chance to showcase products for military infrastructure.

"We are excited to bring our REVIVE line of durable and attractive solar carport to the light commercial, institutional and retail development markets where we see great potential and a need for partnership with the Electric Vehicle infrastructure," said Matt Hayes, General Manager at ProtekPark Solar.

Unlike most solar canopies out there, the REVIVE system is designed as a retrofit solar energy system with EV charging stations, according to the company. The systems can be integrated into a variety of existing structures, and even into bus shelters. As such, it can help reduce the costs of installing an entirely new canopy or other structural feature.

“The turnkey system is immediately ready to use, allowing users access to EV charging stations shaded and powered by solar carports. Not only do they improve the aesthetic value of pre-existing structures, it enhances their environmental impact,” the company said. Since it’s a turnkey system customers can purchase REVIVE by itself, based on the needs of a site, but ProtekPark also offers full system installation.