The prototype, known as a Smart Modal Area Recharge Terminal (SMART™ station), will be erected at EPRI’s research laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee, and will include battery storage capability.
The solar assisted electric charging station will provide information on energy usage, time when the equipment is used, amount of solar generated electricity produced and stored, and potential impact of load clusters (when several vehicles are refueled at the same time) on the reliability of the distribution system.
EPRI and TVA undertook development of the design process to create a model charging facility that will charge electric vehicles quickly and reliably.
When completed this fall, the solar assisted electric charging station will produce data that will help to implement key components of a smart grid, such as integrating renewable energy into the grid, using a battery storage system, assessing the impact on reliability of a distributed resource generation, testing advance metering infrastructure and analyzing electric vehicle supply equipment.
“TVA is taking an aggressive approach in embracing electric vehicle technology including the design, development and assessment of this fully-integrated electric-vehicle charging facility,” explains Michael Howard of EPRI.
“We will work together on this facility which will test the technologies that will be used in the marketplace as electric vehicles play an increasingly prominent role in transportation.”
Solar prototype to be replicated
The prototype solar assisted electric charging station at EPRI will be followed by others located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and in the cities of Nashville and Chattanooga as well as an additional one in Knoxville.
It is being deployed in conjunction with the EV Project, managed by ECOtality North America, and including partners such as the US Department of Energy, the state of Tennessee, TVA, EPRI, ORNL, the cities of Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville, and regional utility partners.
“The SMART station design being launched here today is a major step in realizing a regional system of clean fuel for electric vehicles,” adds Anda Ray of TVA.
“We are looking forward to the positive impact that this project will have to enable a cleaner transportation future with plug-in electric vehicles of all makes and models.”
Canopy of PV may not be best design
The base design is for a 10-space public vehicle charging facility, incorporating a solar hotovoltaic (PV) array integrated with a parking canopy.
Although many designs rely solely on solar panels to form the roof-covering material for the canopy, there is one major drawback that must be considered: “If the canopy consists solely of solar PV panels, then the amount of solar (and thus a major cost factor) is now tied to the sizing of the canopy.
"If the canopy size and solar PV sizing can be kept separate, this leaves open two degrees of freedom in cost control for the total design while simultaneously supporting a modular design function.”
“Selection of photovoltaic panels is based on a balance of performance and cost,” it adds. “The REC panels specified in the design, although not state of the art in efficiency, represent a cost-effective solution for the power levels sought in the system.”
EPRI conducts research and development relating to generation, delivery and consumption of electricity.
TVA is owned by the US Government and generates electricity in Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.