A crowd gathers at the inauguration of a giant solar carport -- complete with solar EV charging, note the Chevy Volt plugged in in the upper left -- at Cal-State Fullerton recently. [Photo Credit: Cal-State U. Fullterton Media Affairs Office]

California State University, Fullerton recently added itself to the growing list of universities and colleges in the U.S. with solar-powered EV charging stations.

REC Solar and AECOM Technology Corporation unveiled a 1.16MW installation at the Cal-State Fullerton (CSUF) campus. REC Solar installed systems on the rooftops of two CSU Fullerton buildings and a parking structure carport under contract to AECOM.

“CSUF is saving energy and reducing costs, while setting the bar for other universities to aspire to," said Dr. Willie Hagan, Interim President of California State University, Fullerton.

[Photo Credit: WattNext.Com]

Florida may not be a leader in solar power in the U.S. despite being dubbed “The Sunshine State”. However, slowly but surely, progress is being made in one of the best places for sun in the U.S.

For example, WattNext, an innovative renewable energy company which describes itself as “creating the infrastructure that connects solar power, electric vehicles, and the ‘smart grid’,” recently installed a so-called RubeStation in Eustis, Fla.

The RubeStation is a prototype EV charging station complete with solar panels and benches. The cost: $30,000.

A view of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, which now has its first solar EV charging station. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia.Org Creative Commons Photo]

Bulgaria has its first solar-powered EV charging station. According to a press release recently published at RenewableEnergyWorld.Com, A1 Co., Ltd. and BIES Ltd. opened the country’s first solar-powered EV charging station in Sofia in early January 2012.

Solar-powered EV charging stations don’t have to be boring or all the same, as a new design from an Italian firm, LumineXence, shows.

Called “Lotus”, the solar-EV charging station is designed in the shape of a leaf, incorporates plenty of pleasing green color, and boasts elegant curves and a sophisticated look.