Is this what rural charging stations will be like in the very near future?
Electrify America- Electrify America opens the first megawatt-level battery energy storage system (BESS) for EV charging stations in California, along with a solar canopy.
- Battery energy storage systems offer increased independence from the grid, allowing energy to be collected during off-peak hours or from the solar panels.
- EA views this type of solution as a preview of non-urban charging station types, with large batteries collecting power from less advanced grid systems.
Electric vehicle owners and non-owners alike may picture charging stations largely as stalls with high-voltage cables connected to the electrical grid, but that’s not necessarily where station engineering trends are going.
Earlier this month Electrify America opened the first megawatt-level battery energy storage system (BESS) for EV charging stations in Baker, California, offering a significant supplement of power boosted by a solar canopy. The goal of such storage systems is to reduce stress on the grid and manage energy costs when local utilities limit the amount of power a station can offer. It also permits a station to generate and store its own solar power.
“To put this into perspective, the energy storage system at Baker, when fully charged, could provide enough energy for an average household for over three months on the single charge,” said Jigar Shah, head of energy services at Electrify America.
A number of EA stations already feature BESS hardware, but this is the first station to top megawatt capacity, giving the EV world a preview of stations that can be self-reliant for part of the time, collecting and dispensing energy drawn from the sun and collected during off-peak hours.
Electrify America notes that stations with large battery energy storage systems will become crucial in areas where power companies may not be able to provide the needed capacity.
On a smaller scale, battery energy storage systems can also be incorporated into much smaller charging stations, about the size of a soda vending machine, or as part of a luxury charging hub with the goal being the same: greater independence from the grid when needed.
“The application of the megawatt-level energy storage is the latest example of how we are continuously innovating to tackle infrastructure challenges and meet charging needs today,” Shah added.
At the moment California is home to over 50 EA stations with BESS, out of a total of 150 locations in the US. During the installation of BESS at the Baker station EA was also able to add four additional chargers.
“As we expand the use of such solutions to more of our charging stations and also to our medium-duty and heavy-duty electric fleet customers, we are positioned to enable continued transportation electrification even in the face of utility capacity constraints,” Shah indicated.
Jay Ramey Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum.
Keyword: Electrify America Launches Megawatt-Level Storage