Impact of Fast Charging on Site Peak Power Demand
Fast charging, particularly with high-power chargers, significantly affects site peak power demand. Here’s how it impacts:
- Increased Peak Demand: Fast charging can increase a site’s peak power demand substantially, sometimes by over 250%. This is especially true for high-power chargers like those operating at 350 kW. Multiple chargers in use simultaneously can lead to even higher peaks, reaching levels up to 1 megawatt (MW).
- Rate Structures and Climate: In areas with high demand charges and lower AC loads, such as cold climates, annual electricity bills can rise by as much as 88% due to these increased peaks. This highlights the importance of considering both the type of rate structure and the local climate when assessing the impact of fast charging.
- Timing of Charging: The timing of charging can also influence peak demand. For example, if EVs charge during late afternoons when building loads are highest (between 12:00 and 18:00), it exacerbates peak demand. Incentivizing nighttime charging (between 20:00 and 06:00) can mitigate this issue and reduce the need for grid upgrades.
- Mitigation Strategies: Technologies like on-site battery storage can help mitigate peak demand by temporarily providing power during these high-demand periods. This approach smoothes out peak spikes, reducing demand charges by shifting some of the load to off-peak hours when charging the batteries.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-fast-charging-affect-site-peak-power-demand/
