UK-based Connected Energy and Renault have installed two quick-charge stations based on E-Stor energy storage technology on highways in Belgium and Germany.
E-Stor technology uses second-life batteries from Renault electric vehicles. With the E-Stor system, batteries are recharged at low power and the stored energy is then released at high power.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
It thus becomes possible to offer electric vehicle charging services in locations where constructing a high power connection to the power grid would be very costly.
“We are developing a range of E-Stor systems, some, like the two installed in Belgium and Germany are designed specifically to enable lower cost, more sustainable electric vehicle charging so it’s great to see these in action,” said Connected Energy managing director, Matthew Lumsden.
“We are now talking to several parties about projects in the UK and Europe and look forward to wide scale roll out in coming months.”
Electric vehicle batteries generally have a service life of eight to ten years. However, they still have substantial capacity for further use in stationary applications, extending their life before recycling. It is particularly to optimise this complete life cycle that Renault has set up the rental of the battery with its customers of electric vehicles.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“Groupe Renault is supporting the development of charging infrastructures to simplify the daily life of electric vehicle drivers,” said head of Electric Vehicle Batteries and Charging Infrastructures Programme, Nicolas Schottey.
“Using our second-life batteries in fast EV chargers contributes to progress by providing charging station operators with economical solutions.”
Connected Energy’s E-Stor systems also offer a solution to load management for use on industrial and commercial sites. Systems can be controlled by an energy optimisation platform to provide complementary power source at peak tariff times.
E-Stor works with a company’s onsite solar PV, or micro wind turbines, storing and releasing energy directly into site systems.
E-Stor can also provide new revenue streams by providing balancing services to the grid operator.
