Revolutionizing EV Charging: How Solar and Storage Can Slash Costs by 80% with Tom McCalmont of Paired Power

Cutting EV Charging Costs by 80% with Solar + Storage with Tom McCalmont of Paired Power

We are excited to kick off Season 7 of Grid Connections with Tom McCalmont, CEO of Paired Power. In this episode, Tom explains how microgrid EV charging—powered by solar energy and enhanced by intelligent load management and battery storage—is transforming the future of clean transportation. He introduces us to Paired Power’s live design and monitoring platform, Periscope, which demonstrates how organizations can reduce energy costs by over 80%, navigate grid constraints, and even enable bidirectional charging.

From pop-up solar canopies to large-scale fleet solutions, Tom illustrates how their adaptable systems provide resilience, cost savings, and reliability for workplaces, remote sites, and fleet operators. Whether you’re an EV driver, a site host, or a clean energy supporter, this conversation delves into the tangible benefits of solar-powered charging infrastructure.

### Key Takeaways

– **Three-Year Wait Times Are Real**: In high-demand states like California, utilities are experiencing lengthy delays in expanding grid capacity for EV charging. However, Paired Power’s microgrids can circumvent these delays by utilizing existing infrastructure.

– **$283,000 Saved Through Intelligent Load Management**: By intelligently staggering EV charging times instead of charging all vehicles simultaneously, site hosts can significantly reduce demand charges and save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, even before integrating solar solutions.

– **Solar + Storage Can Slash Annual Charging Costs by Over 80%**: In a real-world scenario, combining solar and battery storage reduced a workplace charging site’s annual energy bill from $400,000 to $62,000.

– **AC Charging Currently More Practical**: Despite initial efforts to implement pure solar DC-to-DC charging, Paired Power shifted to AC solutions due to a lack of universal DC standards, which presents significant compatibility challenges in charging hardware.

– **Bidirectional Charging for Emergencies and Demand Response**: Paired Power’s systems support bidirectional charging, allowing EVs to supply power back to buildings or the grid during outages or peak demand periods.

– **Design in Minutes with the ‘Periscope’ Simulation Tool**: Their proprietary tool, Periscope, enables quick modeling of site-specific EV charging deployments by factoring in tariffs, load profiles, solar irradiance, and charger types, allowing users to visualize ROI and system performance instantly.

– **Off-Grid Charging at Parks and Beaches**: The PairTree system, a pop-up solar EV charger, can be deployed and operational within a single day, making it ideal for remote locations without existing grid access.

### Connect with Grid Connections

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### Conclusion

Join us as we explore further insights into the future of EV charging, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates in this rapidly evolving field!