DoE adds extra $200k to EV fast charging project
Project to develop XFC charger based on all-SiC modular power converter for DC charging equipment
A $5-million research project focused on fast charging EVS, led by North Carolina State University's FREEDM Systems Center, has been awarded an additional $200,000 grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
The XFC charger this project seeks to develop and demonstrate will be an ultra-low cost, all-SiC modular power converter for direct current charging equipment which can connect directly to a medium voltage distribution system. With power capabilities of 300kWh, these chargers target reducing the time to fully charge a standard 70kWh EV battery to as little as 15 minutes.
"The goal of this new project is to bring extreme fast charging much closer to market realisation and support the continued adoption of electric vehicles by reducing consumers' charge anxiety," said Srdjan Lukic, NC State professor, deputy director of FREEDM and Principal Investigator for the project.
Collaborators on the project include ComEd, Danfoss, GoTriangle, New York Power Authority and North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center.
After the charging systems have been developed, ComEd's Grid Integration and Technology (GrIT) Lab in Maywood, Ill., will serve as the initial testing location for this new technology—providing an independent validation of the XFC system performance.
ComEd will also support phase two of the project by identifying ideal locations on the distribution grid to demonstrate this technology, unlocking the potential for wider deployment.
