Dive Brief:
- Energy storage startup Green Charge and NRG eVgo have partnered to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with integrated energy storage in California. Combining lithium-ion batteries with the electric vehicle chargers, Green Charge says their devices can save drivers 50 percent during peak demand pricing.
- Five of the planned stations are already in operation, and the two companies say the added storage will broaden recharging options for EV owners while also helping the state meet energy storage goals.
- California has a goal of getting 1.5 million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2025, and the partnership believes the new stations will help meet that target.
Dive Insight:
Energy storage at vehicle recharging stations? "It’s really a symbiotic structure," Green Charge CEO Vic Shao told Green Tech Media. “We help enhance the value offering to the end customer; not only are they getting EV chargers, but they’re also getting power savings as well -- all in one shot, all in one sale, all in one installation.”
California has aggressive plug-in vehicle goals, but the combination of storage and recharging could also help the state meet an mandate of deploying 1.3 GW of energy storage capacity by 2020.
High-powered chargers are a key value for EV drivers, the companies said, while power availability, power costs, and capital expenses are frequently barriers to property owners seeking to deploy the technology. Combining energy storage and charging infrastructure will give facility managers a way to reduce costs while attracting consumers, the two believe.
"NRG eVgo makes it easy for property owners to provide EV charging and attract consumers," said Terry O'Day, vice president of NRG eVgo. "Partnering with Green Charge Networks will bring our service to more sites more quickly and expand our offering for both drivers and hosts."
