Electrify America installs battery energy storage systems in EV charging stations

Electrify America, the nation's largest open DC charging network for electric vehicles, has installed onsite, behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems at more than 140 DC fast charging stations around the country, including more than 90 installations in California, according to a press release.

These systems in total have more than 30 megawatts of energy storage capacity, representing the largest roll-out of onsite behind-the-meter battery energy storage coupled with ultra-fast DC chargers in North America, according to the company.

The battery energy storage systems store power when electricity costs are low and supplement power during high points of consumption, minimizing impact on the electrical grid and mitigating demand surges to help Electrify America maintain consistent pricing.

One of the obstacles utility providers face can be «demand charges,» which are electricity surcharges on peak power usage designed to capture the marginal costs imposed on the grid by high-capacity, high-utilization infrastructure, such as factories. When traditional demand charges are levied upon high-capacity, low-utilization infrastructure such as high-powered EV charging stations, they place a disproportionate cost burden on the station owners.

While many states and utilities look to streamline electricity rates to better support public charging infrastructure, Electrify America's investment in energy storage supports the roll-out of ultra-fast DC fast charging where it may otherwise be cost-prohibitive.

Source: Kiosk Marketplace