"Electric fuel station" company gets millions of $$$
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, North America
One of the hurdles in the way of the widespread adoption of electric vehicles is the ability to pull into a fuel station for a quick fill-up. A "multi-million" dollar injection from Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital could very well give Dutch company Epyon just what it needs to leap over that obstacle. The company claims their technology can charge lithium ion batteries in as little as five to fifteen minutes instead of the hours it typically takes now. How do they do it? By using "state-of-the-art power conversion techniques and intelligent control systems" combined with high-power lithium ion and supercapacitor storage. The needs of each cell within the battery are evaluated and met through communication between the charger and battery management system (BMS). Also, by incorporating an energy reservoir into its system, Epyon avoids the predicament of overloading the grid with extreme demand spikes.
You won't see an Epyon station on the side of the road tomorrow though. The first thing they need to do is build some installation demonstration units and partner up with an appropriate battery company. The company, a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, plans on concentrating their initial installations in large commercial facilities such as airports or other industrial environments. Let's just hope the technology doesn't take too long to trickle down to personal vehicles since this is the kind of energy-charging solution that American electric vehicle manufacturers would seem to prefer.
[Source: Clean Break / Earth2Tech]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-23-2008 @ 11:39AM
s13hybrid said...
If they can bring quick fuel stations for electric vehicles I believe that may be the turning point for the end of gas powered vehicles. The next step would be to make a market for performance EVs with a massive aftermarket, then there would no longer be a need for gasoline in transportation (cars,trucks, etc).
I know it is a long ways away, but I think these fuel stations are what will move transportation into the new age. This is the biggest hurdle in my opinion.
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6-23-2008 @ 12:22PM
meme said...
This approach of having the charger communicate with the vehicle, learn the desired charging profile, and then deliver the charge accordingly, is exactly what I've argued is needed if fast-charging EVs are ever going to catch on. You'll never be able to force EV makers to standardize on a single pack due to different needs and rapidly changing technology, but this technology is pack-independent. You just need a standardized connector.
Here's to Epyon's success!
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6-23-2008 @ 12:37PM
Altairian1 said...
Recarge N drive. Way to go!
RechargeNdrive.com
RechargeNgo.com
Reply
6-24-2008 @ 4:13AM
malcolm said...
But with all the extra safety features and trained staff to fill you up using high currents and/or voltages, the price per kWh of electricity from these stations will be considerably higher than what EV owners can get in their own garages overnight at the night tarrif rate. Even recharging in the office car park during the day will be more economical than these ultra-fast recharge stations.
Ok so filling up at home/at work will be slower, but enough people will do this to kill the economics of ultra-fast charging.
Might work on interstates where there is essentially a captive audience, but here again people may prefer longer stops for lunch, shopping etc to allow them to set the machines to give slower/cheaper recharging.
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6-24-2008 @ 10:10PM
GenWaylaid said...
Malcolm,
No, I would not prefer a longer stop while on a road trip for any reason. I'd pay anything up to 75 cents per kWh just to be in and out in under fifteen minutes.
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