My understanding is Freewire is great unless a lot of people charge in a row and then you gotta wait for the packs to recharge?
Not sure.
This charger is great for rural deployments, not high-traffic areas. It essentially allows you to run a DCFC using an electrical hookup comparable to a higher-powered L2 charger. I'd say the pack should have enough energy, when full, to charge about 3 cars in a row.
yes, that's right... but they avoid the ridiculous demand charges from the utility... I think this is a cool technology that will enable DCFC in rural places that would never get them without big electrical infrastructure expense.
Yeah like most technologies knowing where to use it is key. As many others said, these are perfect for low volume sites. Like throwing a few in a gas station with a huge lot that someone could use if they really need to. But if you are installing 4 or more of them because you expect demand, then on site large battery makes way more sense.
The charging network states that its customers near Baker have already begun experiencing the revamped station and charging offload has already surpassed 1 MW of peak energy demand. Furthermore, all of that megawatt-level load has been delivered by the BESS and solar canopy alone.
That seems pretty cool and could help solve some of the bigger issues with charging.More good news:
https://electrek.co/2022/10/19/electrify-america-megawatt-level-battery-storage-charging-station/
Electrify America’s first megawatt-level battery storage-backed charging station reduces stress on the grid
Scooter Doll
- Oct. 19th 2022 11:58 am PT
@SCOOTERDOLL
EV fast charging network Electrify America has unveiled the first application of a megawatt-level battery storage system to support one of its charging stations. With over 150 battery energy storage solutions already in place at stations around the US, Electrify America looks to demonstrate reduced stress on the electrical grid by use of these larger storage solutions and new solar canopies.
Electrify America currently operates one of the largest DC fast-charger networks in the United States, consisting of roughly 800 charging stations that contain about 3,500 individual EV chargers. Looking ahead, the company is already working to expand in the United States and Canada by 2026, growing to approximately 10,000 chargers across 1,800 different Electrify America stations.
Unlike many other competitors, EA has kept a keen focus on delivering as much power as possible, offering at minimum 150 kW, but power as high 350 kW. Such energy demands can put a strain on the local electrical grid in certain areas, especially during times when peak demand is at its highest.
To help combat this, Electrify America has been implementing battery energy storage systems (BESS) to act as a supplemental source of power and a buffer between its stations and local utilities. Electrify America has installed BESS at over 100 stations in California alone, using Tesla Powerpacksas part of a deal made back in 2019.
Now, EA is upping the ante and will begin integrating even larger battery energy storage systems at the mega-watt level, beginning at the Electrify America station in Baker, California.
Electrify America station receives megawatt BESS
Electrify America unveiled its first station to receive the larger, megawatt-level system in a press release today. The Baker, California location has been expanded from eight fast chargers up to twelve thanks to the support of the new BESS.
We asked Electrify America who is providing the larger energy storage systems that have now joined the Tesla Powerpacks already in place. At first, representatives said they were not sharing, but had a quick change of heart. EA states that it has several BESS system suppliers in place, including Tesla and Eaton. The system at the Baker station is powered by Tesla batteries.
EA did share that it selected its Baker station to be the first to receive the megawatt-level energy storage system because of its remote location and its previous utility capacity constraints. The new system can store approximately 1.5 MW (3 MWh), bolstered by 66 kW of generation potential from a solar canopy – another first for the charging network debuting in Baker.
When fully charged, the company states the storage system could power an average household for three months before having to recharge itself. EA’s head of energy services Jigar Shah spoke:
The charging network states that its customers near Baker have already begun experiencing the revamped station and charging offload has already surpassed 1 MW of peak energy demand. Furthermore, all of that megawatt-level load has been delivered by the BESS and solar canopy alone.
