The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) have introduced the prototype for an integrated solar-assisted electric vehicle (EV) charging station that will be erected at the institute's Knoxville, Tenn., research laboratory.
EPRI and TVA undertook the development of the design process with Eaton Corp. as a contractor to create a model-charging facility that will charge electric vehicles quickly and reliably, according to EPRI and TVA.
When completed in the fall, the test station will produce data that will assist in implementing key components of a smart grid, such as integrating renewables onto the grid, utilizing a battery storage system, assessing the impact on reliability of distributed resource generation, testing advanced metering infrastructure and analyzing electric vehicle supply equipment.
The prototype, known as a Smart Modal Area Recharge Terminal (SMART) station, will provide information on energy usage, the time when the equipment is used, the amount of solar-generated electricity produced and stored, and the potential impact of load clusters – when several vehicles are refueled at the same time – on distribution system reliability.Â
SOURCE: Electric Power Research Institute
