Managers are still somewhat skeptical about their existing electrical grids' capabilities to support fleets of EVs.
Of course, power capacity can vary from location to location, but the concerns are real.
According to Paired Power, providers of a direct-DC approach to EV charging, one Level 2 charger consumes the same power as 5 household clothes dryers, and one Level 3 charger consumes the same power as 100 clothes dryers.
Grid expansion isn't easy
Grid expansion alone cannot keep pace with the expected proliferation of EVs. Peak demands illustrate the importance of energy management, as one typical vehicle requires 6kW to fully charge.
For six cars simultaneously producing a peak demand on six chargers, that’s 36kW an hour.
Demand charges are expensive and can be thousands per month when EV charging exponentially increases the daily power demand.
There are other issues, as well.
What are some options for EV charging?
Waiting lists for expanded service capacity from some utilities may be two years or longer, the company says. There is also the possibility of supply chain delays for new transformers and switchgear.
In addition, parking lots can be torn up for months during construction, perhaps hindering the rest of the fleet during its movement in and out.
Paired Power's premise is that its "advanced microgrid charging system," which marries solar, energy storage, and software to help manage demand, can expand available grid capacity by five times or more, reducing costs along the way.
How it works
PairFleet adds a solar panel, battery storage, and system control to an existing grid. The system control adds managed charging, allowing demand charges to be controlled and reduced by spreading them throughout the day.
The company says that in the six-car scenario, its system can keep demand down to 9kW a day. The solar panel literally spans the the six chargers, forming a roof over the charging stations.
Adding energy generation in the form of solar extends the capacity of the available power grid; battery storage enables time-shifting the energy to when it's needed most; and the intelligent software system, backed by AI, manages the energy flows.
Learn how a Fleet Master achieves sustainability
A smaller product, PairTree, a pop-up solar canopy, can charge one or to EVs with 75 to 150 miles of range every day.
Installed in one day, it includes:
- One solar panel and a charger
- Bifacial PV modules for higher energy yield
- Level 2 chargers with Universal SAE J1772 charging interface
- Up to 42.4 kWh battery storage
- Up to 230 miles daily drive range with battery
- Optional 240 VAC grid connection
- Simple web-based user experience accessed via QR code
- Remote monitoring and energy management software.
For the larger PairFleet solution, the company says its software can ensure 99.7% uptime for charging.
