Chongqing - The future of streetlights goes beyond mere illumination. Today's streetlights incorporate a range of functionalities, including information broadcasting, smart surveillance, wireless networking, and electric vehicle charging, spearheading industry innovation.

The China (Chongqing) Intelligent Lighting Expo 2024 recently commenced in Chongqing, drawing 300 lighting-related companies and organizations from around the globe to an expansive 10,000-square-meter venue. The three-day event is expected to attract 10,000 professional visitors, providing a rich platform for networking and discovery.

This expo is distinguished by its emphasis on advanced technologies and the sustainable lighting industry, a shift from traditional consumer-focused exhibitions on lighting and building materials. Exhibitors are showcasing their latest innovations in intelligent and eco-friendly lighting solutions.

Chongqing Hongri Lighting Equipment Co., Ltd. demonstrated a multifunctional smart streetlight that integrates standard lighting and surveillance with additional features such as an LED screen, citywide broadcasting, emergency call buttons, environmental monitoring, and support for 5G networks. The base of this streetlight also serves as a charging station for electric vehicles.

Sichuan Huazhi Precision Technology Co., Ltd. has elevated the concept by transforming streetlights into high-power electric vehicle rapid charging and energy storage stations. Their exhibit featured a 120kW fast charging station cleverly integrated behind the light pole.

Manager Li from Sichuan Huazhi explained that the smart streetlight is designed to be versatile and accommodate various user needs. It supports edge-cloud collaboration, shared computing power, and multiple service terminals within a unified network. Impressively, the cost of these poles is 20% less than that of a standard streetlight.

As China pursues its "dual carbon goals" and fosters smart city developments, multifunctional smart streetlights are gaining widespread adoption nationwide.

A Chongqing Lighting Electrical Association representative noted that these smart street lamps are crucial for integrating various systems' capabilities, providing power supply, and facilitating communications in the 5G era.

He added that Chongqing's lighting industry benefits significantly from its strategic geographical position, continually fostering new, high-quality productive forces through enhanced technological innovation, improved industrial systems, and optimized resource sharing.