Siemens introducing new 22 kW fast charging station for plug-ins
04 April 2011
Siemens has launched a new electric-vehicle charging station on the market that can fully recharge a battery within one hour. By doubling the output to 22 kW, the charging station cuts charging times in half. The station is also protected against vandalism, with a doubly secured charging cable and the option of connecting the device to a remote surveillance system so that it can be used as part of a smart grid.
Because EV batteries will have to be recharged more often than vehicles with combustion engines will need to be refueled, the wide-scale use of electric automobiles will require short charging times, a convenient payment system, anti-vandalism protection, devices that are safe and easy to operate, and the possibility of dynamically managing the charging current via a control center, Siemens says.
The developers at Siemens Energy took all of these requirements into account when they were creating the Charge CP700A charging station. When charging, the station secures the vehicle plug and the loading flap to prevent the cable from being detached without authorization. In its fastest mode of operation, the station has a charging output of 22 kW and a three-phase alternating current of 32 amperes, enabling it to recharge vehicles within one hour. The station can also recharge batteries at a lower level of output. To make this possible, the station communicates with the vehicle via the charging cable to make sure that the battery is charged at a rate the vehicle can handle.
Outdoor lighting signalizes at a distance whether or not the station is occupied. The system is user-friendly: Motorists register for the charging and payment process using a non-contact chip card and launch the charging process from a display. Electric current doesn’t flow through the cable until the command is given to start the charging process. Until that point the station’s power socket doesn?t have any voltage, so operation is safe and reliable.
Prototypes of this charging station have already been used in projects conducted by the German Ministry of the Environment in various model regions of the country. The new charging station will also be used in the EU-sponsored Green eMotion project, for which Siemens is the consortium leader.
What's needed for widespread adoption of EVs is widespread availability of EVs. The charging is not really that important because most people will just charge at home at night. Initially sales of EVs will most likely be as a daily commuter car (secondary) rather than the main family car. I expect it will be a while before people are willing to use an EV as their primary transportation.
Fast charging is nice to have if you are planning long trips in an EV, which really isn't the main function of an EV.
Posted by: Eletruk | 04 April 2011 at 12:46 PM
I agree with you, at least for the next 5+ years and for city type BEVs.
Eventually, (post-2016) much larger fourth generation 60 Kwh to 100 Kwh battery packs will be used on highway type BEVs. Special very high power chargers will be required along highways to pick up quick (15 minutes) re-charge on long trips.
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 April 2011 at 01:08 PM
Charging may not be important for 95% of use, but that other 5% is likely to influence public perception and the rate of uptake. Having people tell good stories about snatching a quick charge and being on their way is important, because those are what spreads by word of mouth.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 04 April 2011 at 01:36 PM
Thats one hour assuming your battery is nearly empty. Oppotunity charging when shopping, eating etc would open a lot more use for electric vehicles, and this level of charging would be ideal for taxis which could take 20-30 minute charges several times a day.
20kW is about the sweet spot for mild hybrids, you could get power electronics, a small ~1kWh battery and 20kW motor added to a vehicle for a fairly low marginal cost.
Posted by: 3PeaceSweet | 04 April 2011 at 01:45 PM
What's needed is an inexpensive battery capable of providing a range of 300 miles. Anything else is wishful thinking.
Posted by: Mannstein | 04 April 2011 at 03:17 PM
Strategically placed quick charge stations are absolutely vital to improve usability of current generation EVs.
As one who is in line for a Nissan LEAF and reading about the experiences of current users - it fairly apparent people often take trips that are just outside or on the edge of the vehicle's range - and stopping for 15 minutes at 22 kW (~5.5 kWh) would be very useful to pick up 20 miles of range.
At standard 3.3 kW charge rate you'd have to wait nearly 2 hours to get that kind of range.
Even then - 22 kW seems a bit slow - the LEAF can handle up to 50 kW through it's optional CHAdeMO port.
I'm not familiar with the charging standard this unit uses - it appears to be essentially a 3-phase version of your typical Level 2 J1772 EVSE...
Posted by: Dave R | 04 April 2011 at 03:35 PM
"Strategically placed quick charge stations are absolutely vital to improve usability of current generation EVs."
True for the short range EVs like Leaf which under perform. If you have a longer range Model S, or Fisker, or Roadster you simply plan to charge at home or office. With Ford's Focus electric their battery thermal management will yield better range than Leaf and they have a 6.6kW charger standard.
Of course if you opt for a VOLT - you get 300 mile extended range from the ICE.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 04 April 2011 at 04:41 PM
Why is 22 kW considered fast charge when we had 50 kW chargers 13 years ago?
http://www.altfuels.org/events/otherafv/quikchrg.html
Posted by: clett | 05 April 2011 at 01:25 AM
Clett....good question. With future 100+ Kwh battery packs, improved road side chargers will reach 100+ Kwh.
Mannstein.....300 miles is the mid-term (2015/2020) goal for many long range BEVs. The long term (2020/2030) goal should be around 500 miles per charge. Both will materialize.
It will be interesting to see the fuel cells evolution in the next 10/15 years. Will they compete with batteries and super caps?
Posted by: HarveyD | 05 April 2011 at 07:37 AM
The purpose of a fast charger like this is to extend your usable range by about 20-30 miles for most users. This takes a leafs real world range of 75 miles and makes it 100.
If your willing to stay longer... every 10 minutes of stay means about 12 extra miles. A good bit over a mile a minute.
As for fuel cells vs batteries... The main decider there will be the final floor of batteries prices. There will be a floor and it wont be as low as many wish.
If that floor.. with warranty and installation costa dn testing costs and blah blah blah.. is say 300 a kwh.... even 50 kwh will overall be unthinkable in any but spendy cars.
Posted by: wintermane2000 | 05 April 2011 at 10:42 AM
300 mile range in a BEV is really overkill, you will have to carry all that weight during your daily 20 mile commute for the rare time that you will need 300 miles of range in one go.. thats about 5 hours of driving, take a 30 minute charging break for gods sake!
Posted by: Herm | 05 April 2011 at 01:04 PM
No its not overkill.. remember people need a car to do both the week and weekend... otherwise they have to have anouther car. People look at what they do every weekened and what sorts of backup range they need in case of power outages and accidents and foggy minds...
Posted by: wintermane2000 | 06 April 2011 at 04:28 PM