IEEE Spectrum has published an article entitled We're Charging Our Cars Wrong with the subtitle "Complex, costly charging infrastructure is limiting the adoption of EVs". It delves into charging electronics and how they should be redesigned to reduce their cost significantly while not degrading safety or reliability. It includes a surprising statement: "A single 300-kW port in a public charging station includes about US $90,000 of power electronics, of which about $54,000 is for the isolation link." No wonder DC fast charging rates tend to be considerably higher than local electricity rates. It's a wonder that DC fast charging companies can be profitable.
The authors are the cofounders of AC Propulsion, a startup company that in 1996 built the tZero electric roadster. Being EV pioneers, I wonder why their recommended EV charging station changes weren't incorporated early on. Maybe subsequent advances in power electronics has made these changes possible.
If you are curious about how EV charging stations operate and what changes might be made to make them less expensive, this would be an informative read.
The authors are the cofounders of AC Propulsion, a startup company that in 1996 built the tZero electric roadster. Being EV pioneers, I wonder why their recommended EV charging station changes weren't incorporated early on. Maybe subsequent advances in power electronics has made these changes possible.
If you are curious about how EV charging stations operate and what changes might be made to make them less expensive, this would be an informative read.
