Using latent capacity to enable rapid charging in constrained urban locations
The continued uptake of electric vehicles (EV) will require innovative solutions to provide the necessary power to supply rapid chargers at ‘petrol-station’ like facilities.
In this innovative project EV rapid chargers will be connected to a new DC network between AC substations.
By sharing the charging load between existing AC substations rapid charging hubs can be connected without the need to build new AC substations.
This should help with the challenge of installing rapid charging hubs in urban areas and lead to better utilisation of electrical network capacity.
Problem
The UK's Clean Growth Strategy requires that EVs must become the norm by 2030. To achieve this, users must be encouraged to migrate to EV's safe in the knowledge that they are able to fully charge their EV in a matter of minutes and the costs for network reinforcements to provide such huge power demands must be managed.
The DC Share solution is an innovative method utilising DC connection to EVs. This solution has not be trialed before. DC charging presents a design challenge and demonstration that the solution works will provide a stepping stone to low carbon transportation.
Method & Solution
DC Share will select four secondary substations with differing load profiles, convert AC to DC and deliver it to a DC ring from which fifteen rapid (50-100 kW) chargers will be directly connected.
The design will allow power to be drawn from those substations with available capacity at any point in time. In addition, those substations with spare capacity will be able to support those that are heavily loaded, deferring the need for reinforcement.
A SMART computerised system will be provided to manage the entire network.
Benefits
DC Share will provide benefits through the provision of required rapid charging facilities at lower cost than the equivalent AC reinforcement and increased utilisation of the AC network allowing the deferment of reinforcement.
By aiding the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles DC Share will help to reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality.