To encourage further adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), adequate facilities must be available to reassure drivers that EV charging will be accessible. The EU has set a target of installing 2.9 million public charging points across its member states by 2030. To make charging station operations run as smoothly as possible, and allow a greater throughput of customers, faster charging rates need to be supported. This will also be more convenient for customers, as they will have less waiting time while their EV battery is recharged. Faster charging calls for voltages to be raised, so power devices that can push the performance envelope must be specified - with greater voltage withstand specifications, higher power densities, accelerated switching speeds and enhanced conversion efficiencies to prevent excessive heat being generated. At the same time, high degrees of circuit isolation must be incorporated to make certain that user safety is not at risk. Sensors for operational monitoring, communication chip/modules and security functions will also be included into charging equipment designs.
With fast-charging DC charging stations increasing in number across the European continent, unprecedented strain is going to be put onto the grid. In addition to the technology relating to charging systems, substantial battery storage will be needed to provide a buffer. This will prevent the electricity grid from being overloaded by too much demand at any point in time resulting from the instability of renewable dominated supply. All of this must be managed to make certain that enough energy is available to keep up with the volume of EV charging customers. It will not be done solely at the cloud, there will be a need to have edge located computing implemented too. Weather stations at the charging sites will monitor ambient conditions, so that the output from the installed photovoltaics there can be predicted and energy storage levels ramped up if there is the prospect of a shortfall.
As well as DC charging stations, there will be an increasing number of wall box installations at homes, apartment blocks and offices. These will feature the hardware necessary for them to run off AC mains supplies. Once again, assured user safety will be mandated, so fully effective protection components will need to be integrated.
EV Charging: The power of three
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