Product Abstract

This report documents the base design for a Smart Modal Area Recharge Terminal (SMART) station. The base design is for a 10-space public vehicle charging facility, incorporating a solar photo-voltaic array/canopy with battery storage. Many of the design recommendations are based on the system design experience of Eaton Corporation in related energy applications and cover safety compliance and field integration. The design effort was conducted not only to develop a base design that can be used by other entities working to provide similar infrastructure, but also to investigate the opportunities and issues such a system presents. The design also allowed such elements as the feasibility and cost of modularity to be explored for a fully engineered system.

Volume 1 of this document discusses the base design effort. Volume 2 is planned to follow construction of the first system to document the build experience.

Objective

Understanding and developing public charging infrastructure that incorporates multiple technologies has many challenges. Since consumer habits for the use of plug-in electric vehicles are not well understood, some assumptions as to potential use and location of such infrastructure must be made. Sizing of the various system elements must be made on general use assumptions for the system. The cost implications of these decisions can then be accessed. The objective of undertaking this design was to identify the opportunities and challenges that would need to be addressed to deploy more complex vehicle-charging hardware in the public space.

Approach

Based on a series of stakeholder meetings, a basic set of design requirements was developed and implemented in a base solar-assisted charging station design.

Results

A design incorporating several key project goals has been developed. This design can be used as a basis for a publically deployed charging infrastructure and as a way to gauge the potential costs of such infrastructure. It is possible to build complex charging infrastructure as described in this design report, but it is likely that budgetary constraints will be a key driver in the sizing of system elements.

Application, Value and Use

The results from development of the base design are being used as the basis for continuing efforts to deploy a number of public charging stations throughout the Tennessee Valley and beyond. Understanding how the public will interact with this new infrastructure will allow future deployment of charging hardware in a way that best meets the needs of the driving public while doing so in the most cost-effective way.

EPRI Perspective

EPRI brings the unique perspective of a full knowledge of the electric system and the utility industry. If the electric grid is to become the “filling station pipeline” of the future, then utilities must be at the forefront of infrastructure development and deployment. Understanding the grid impact of such systems, managing this load growth, and planning resources to meet future needs are essential to maintaining reliable and reasonably priced electric service. Providing reliable and reasonably priced electric service is basic to the electrification of transportation.