According to foreign media reports, the Australian National Scientific Research Organization (CSIRO) has launched a new technology to connect rooftop solar and batteries to support electric vehicle charging. Even in midsummer, the charging system can work well.
Now that there are more and more electric vehicles on the roads in Australia, the demand for infrastructure is also increasing, putting pressure on the charging stations of the grid. The new solar-powered electric vehicle charging station can make full use of renewable energy and relieve the pressure on the grid during peak times. These charging stations are designed for ordinary households in Australia and overcome a series of charging problems for electric vehicles, including managing the temperature on the hottest days. Through new technologies, it is also possible to charge multiple cars in areas with limited grid power, such as home garages and public parking lots.
CSIRO researchers worked with Delta Electronics and Nissan Australia to develop and test the system, using a series of thermal management strategies to ensure effective battery charging and discharging. Dr. Christopher Munnings, the chief researcher of the CSIRO Hybrid Energy System Center, said that 90% of electric vehicles can be charged at home. "Ordinary household charging systems, in hot weather, usually cannot charge cars, because overheating will slow down the charging speed. We have designed a way to manage the battery temperature to minimize the demand for grid power. In households with multiple electric cars, the system can automatically monitor each car and distribute the load among the battery, solar photovoltaic, and other parts of the home.
"This means that cars are charging faster, using as much sunlight as possible, and there is no need to upgrade the grid connection. This technology can accelerate the promotion of electric vehicles."
Nissan’s headquarters in Dandenong, Australia has installed three solar charging modules, each of which can charge four cars. These modules will be tested and evaluated for more than 200 days, including the peak summer period. Researchers will evaluate the data collected throughout the test period to confirm the relevant environmental and cost-effectiveness.
