Limiting how long depleted electric vehicles need to be plugged in for will go a long way toward driving their adoption, and bit by bit we are seeing advances that shave valuable minutes off the waiting times. Technology company ABB is making inroads in this area, having just announced what is claimed to be the world's fastest electric vehicle charger, capable of delivering 100 km (62 miles) of range in a matter of minutes.
ABB's new Terra 360 is billed as the most powerful EV charger in the world, and is positioned as a solution for refueling stations, urban charging stations, retail parking and commercial electric vehicle fleets. Customizable LED lighting strips and an optional 27-inch LCD display guide the user through the charging process and the state of their battery, and counts down the minutes until the charging is complete.
And that might not be many minutes at all, according to ABB. The Terra 360 has a maximum output of 360 kW and the company says it can fully charge an electric car in 15 minutes of less. Or if it's just a top up that's needed while the user stops off for some snacks, the 100 km of extra range can be added through less than three minutes of plug-in time.
The Terra 360 looks much like a typical gasoline pump, with four ports and five-meter (16 ft) cables enabling charging of up to four vehicles at once, albeit at a slower 90 kW.
How much road users will be able to take advantage of the Terra 360's charging speeds will depend on their vehicle, with not all EVs able to handle this type of power output. As more roll onto the streets in the coming years that could change, and these types of ultra-fast charging solutions could play a huge part in lessening range anxiety and boosting the appeal of electric cars.
There are comparable charging rates on offer out there, including those along the Electrify America EV charging network. ABB is actually providing some of the charging equipment for this infrastructure, which is expected to span 3,500 DC fast-charging outlets across the US by the end of this year, offering charging speeds as high as 350 kW – said to be the fastest on the market currently. For context, the latest generation of Tesla's Superchargers offer peak rates of 250 kW.
“With governments around the world writing public policy that favors electric vehicles and charging networks to combat climate change, the demand for EV charging infrastructure, especially charging stations that are fast, convenient and easy to operate is higher than ever,” said Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility Division. “The Terra 360, with charging options that fit a variety of needs, is the key to fulfilling that demand and accelerating e-mobility adoption globally.”
You can check out the promo video for the Terra 360 below.
Source: ABB
Which connector - CCS, Chademo, or ???
Once they get the rechage down to under 5-10 minutes, and get the EV charging stations set up across the country, PERHAPS
EV's will start to be more popular.
Then comes the 400 pound gorilla in the room. What to do with all of the "dead" batteries that need to be disposed of not to
mention all of the mining required to produce the batteries.
EVs are coming en mass. Not due to green considerations. Simply due to their improving economics vs ICE vehicles. Once they reach initial pricing parity with ICE, they will sell because they are more reliable, cheaper to maintain and operate.
The grid capacity issue is real, but not unsolvable. Part of the solution is reduced demand from legacy grid-attached devices. Dramatic increases in efficiency of existing devices, whether they be fridges, lighting, air conditioners, etc… reduce the load on the grid.
As more homes add solar, further encouraged by the same reduced cost of batteries, grid demand falls further.
As to old EV batteries - there’s some strong evidence properly managed batteries in EV’s might dramatically outlast ICE drivetrains.
ICE drive trains drive a massive about of waste - whether it be replacing components (electric motors might run 1 million miles without needing to be touched) or changing out fluids every 3k-5k miles.
Really?
Most modern IC engines using modern semi-synthetic oils go around five times further than that on a fluid and filter change, and EVs have transmissions using lubricants too.
Then there is the extra wear and tear on the suspension and tyres (not to mention the roads) caused by the large increase in weight due to the batteries.
Also, the last few cars I have had have been replaced because the running gear was worn out or corroded, the engines and transmissions have been fine after six figure mileages, there are examples of IC vehicles on the road that have covered several hundred thousand miles, over a million in some cases.