EVOASIS UK
Introduction to Evoasis-EVSTAT Electric Vehicle Rapid-Charging Station and facilities
View of London from Evoasis HQ
With electric vehicle models from most OEMs expected in the market by 2011, the need for efficient charging infrastructure to supply power to the vehicles is a determinant factor for the electric vehicles (EV) market success. EVOASIS has presented a bold strategy that differentiates it from its charging station manufacturer competitors by offering rapid-charge, variable voltage and amperage delivery of power plus a variety of additional services for customers while they charge their vehicles. These range from diagnostic testing/reporting to entertainment and in-car software, firmware and navigation services. In addition, EVOASIS attaches great importance to charging station design, with optimized designs to fit each city culture as well as lounge, refreshment and replenishment areas for customers.
Infrastructure Evolution
The ever-increasing price-volatility of petrol and diesel fuel affecting the European economies coupled with a case of reliance on diminishing supplies of imported fossil fuels is a national, geopolitical concern in all the countries of Europe. Parallel to this is the growing concern regarding global warming and pollution through automobiles and trucks especially in densely populated metro areas. Along with London, there are now 13 other major cities in the EU who are planning to impose congestion fees on vehicles, both private and commercial, who enter the designated congestion zone during peak business hours. Alternate fuel cars such as EV’s PHEV’s and NEV’s will benefit from offsets, subsidies and relaxed parking tariff’s in these zones. Legislative bodies are pushing the OEMs to adopt alternate propulsion technologies. These factors are now creating a dynamic where consumer awareness and financial incentives combined with improved performance, vehicle range, charge-time and cost controls enable electric vehicle manufacturers to deliver for the first time, a viable product to a vibrant, expanding marketplace.
The promotion of EV use as a sustainable transportation solution is in the interest of both the energy and transportation industry as well as governments, to reduce CO2 emissions and foster energy independence. Local governments are granting consumers a variety of incentives to encourage the purchase of an EV, PHEV or NEV, making it a financial advantage for consumers. Incentives include rebates of up to $8,000 on the purchase price, tax reduction or exemption, other advantages such as no congestion charge, free parking, use of exclusive lanes and so on. However, there are challenges with respect to charging station infrastructure, as there are almost no dedicated charging stations and almost none with a sufficient power output for Rapid Charging (20 minutes or less) of EV’s. Daytime use of hundreds of EV’s in a major metro area creates the requirement of sufficient, additional, electric energy supply to achieve a sustainable solution.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Market: Technology Roadmap (Europe), 2005-2015
Futuristic yet Realistic Solutions
EVOASIS’ EVSTAT charging facilities present an exciting proposition for the automotive industry. EVOASIS transforms neglected forecourts, former petrol stations and shopping centre parking areas into electric vehicle Rapid-Charge stations (EVSTAT) that are architecturally designed to conform to, as well as enhance any city environment or theme. EVOASIS employs rapid-charging power “pumps” which can deliver up to 500 Volts and 2oo Amps, far exceeding household, curbside or other vehicle charging services and solutions. EVSTAT facilitates charging vehicles to 80% of capacity in 20 minutes. Not all EV’s on the market can currently handle the higher voltages and amperages required to perform rapid charging. Therefore EVSTAT stations identify the vehicle type and power tolerances and deliver the optimum charging power to multiple vehicles simultaneously with dynamic load sharing, while adhering to power specifications from the vehicle manufacturer. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, almost all electric vehicles will be able to receive a Direct Current, high-voltage, rapid-charge to allow them to move as normal traffic from distant point to distant point, or make an “unplanned trip, knowing that power will be available to complete their excursion with no more than 20-30 minutes of “down-time” for each 100-200 miles of actual driving. This represents the “Tipping Point” in the mass adoption of electric vehicles and will be achieved by facilities such as EVSTAT stations being deployed on a local, regional and national/international scale over the coming years. In addition, EVSTAT stations employ an underground battery-bunker facility, which captures then stores electrical energy from the grid at off-peak tariff cycles, then uses the cheaper stored energy for powering the facility and the vehicles during peak hours from sunrise-to-sunset. This mitigates the load on the electrical grid during peak-demand hours. With the intention of guaranteeing safety during vehicle charging, EVOASIS trains personnel to operate the charging facilities and attend to the vehicle and driver needs, while additionally offering diagnostic and maintenance service to the vehicle operator.
Furthermore, EVOASIS utilities sustainable means of energy production and distribution. “Retired” or “half-life” batteries are also used as part of a battery matrix to store and deliver energy and extend their usefulness beyond the vehicle application. In order to overcome the lack of standardization in charging plugs, paddles and cables, the stations also contain a “tack-room” of heavy duty, aircraft-grade charging cables suitable for a variety of electric vehicles. The axes of differentiation also lie in how EVOASIS caters to each customers’ comfort and convenience. Every EVSTAT station also features Club-Class relaxation areas that provide essential services such as food and beverages, Internet and wireless connectivity. Essential business services for on-the-go lifestyles, retail and vehicle rental spaces and other conveniences. LCD screens on each charging point will feature value added services and point-of-sale ordering of goods and services. Our proprietary charge plugs can also deliver data to the car such as software, firmware, diagnostic reporting, music, media and film as well as fleet management applications and geocentric data.
All events are reported to the driver and other “interested parties” via GPRS wireless reporting.
EVOASIS Leads the Charge
Partnerships leads to innovation and revolutionary products and services. EVOASIS has partnered with solar glass supplier Scheuten to provide solar glass panels that will serve as a green and alternative way of energy production for its facility and underground storage. This partnership helps in providing not only a green solution but also aid in creating an aesthetically appealing environment for the charging stations through partnership with EPR architects. Evoasis has also teamed with Park & Power of the UK to deliver additional charging points of convenience, known as Power Towers, on and off off our properties and into the surrounding community. Furthermore, EVOASIS has established various levels of partnerships with governments, cities and municipalities around the world such as the US, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and UAE, Masdar City-Abu Dhabi, Dublin Ireland, San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles to name a few. Evoasis has also been engaged for the last 18 months with various participants in the value chain such as vehicle manufacturers, telematics solutions providers and battery manufacturer and power supply companies, to share common practices and specifications in order to help make the electric car vision and its tremendous potential a reality. The company also supports various innovative ways to ease consumer resistance to the adoption of sustainable mobility by making access to these types of vehicles simple and affordable. Rent-a-Car, Membership and Subscription-based facility access as well as pay-as-you-charge or pay-as-you go rates, test drives, on-site open house events and extensive roaming agreements with other charging providers will surely enable the company’s vision to make rapid-charging easy, relaxing, convenient and inherently safe.
Conclusion
With at least 13 congestion-charging cities to be operational by 2013 in Europe, EVs are set to revolutionize how consumers benefit from alternate transportation from a financial perspective as well as a energy-conscious, eco-friendly basis. EVOASIS is supporting the paradigm shift in the electric transport age by enabling the necessary infrastructure build-out. EVSTAT facilities are designed to be easily integrated, fabricated off-site and erected on-site with the minimum time and effort, specialist skills and manpower requirements on small, medium and large scale deployments. EVSTAT stations are Best-of-Breed facilities, constantly utilizing the latest advances and cost reductions to make each facility cheaper, better, faster and more sustainable.