Showing posts with label Electric Vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Electric Vehicles. Show all posts

Monday, March 5, 2012


Portland, Oregon, is home to the nation’s first EV quick-charge station with a battery assist.

The battery buffer EV charger, manufactured and installed by Kanematsu, includes a battery pack that allows EV drivers to charge up in 30 minutes or less with minimal impact to the grid and their wallet.

While other DC fast-charging stations can get a Nissan Leaf on its way just as quickly as the buffer charger, they require a great deal of electricity — power most likely sold at peak rates. Kanematsu’s buffer battery charging station provides up to 50 kilowatts for cars while drawing just 25 kilowatts from the grid. The rest is stored in the battery and discharged when an EV is plugged in. The battery can be recharged during off-peak hours, when electricity is cheapest.