Solar Charging Stations
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- Category: Reviews
- Published on Saturday, 05 February 2011 06:10
- Written by Akash
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Solar Charging for EVs : EVFuture's Solution
In India, electric vehicles have yet to take off as an accepted mainstream means of transportation. This is due to several factors, not least of which is the fact the India's electrical grid is not stable enough to provide 24-hour a day electricity unlike many developed nations.
If EVs are to be accepted a lot has to be done at the infrastructure level from service stations to charge points. This review takes a look at the prototype charging station developed by EVFuture and discusses some of it's key advantages and disadvantages.
EVFuture Solar Charging Station
Specifications:
Battery Capacity: 150 AH/12v
Max Load: 800W @ 220V
Recharge via 4 solar panels @ 80W
The solar charging station comprises of a center pole allowing vehicles to move under the roof from both sides. It was decided to install a 220V inverter to make the charging compatible with various types of vehicle and the cost of efficiency.
Major problems with the current setup are improper air filters, with the result that electronics is subjected to high amounts of dust particles resulting in frequent failure. In future revisions, the team is revising this and building an independent block with proper dust control ducts.
When designing a solar charging station proper requirements are paramount for successful functioning and therefore clients wishing to install them should study probable usage patterns for their EVs before considering this as an option. The high cost of storage (batteries) and panels makes initial investment substantially higher than installing a plug point in a parking log for recharging using conventional electricity.
Solar charging stations are an ideal solution for remote locations that have no grid supply or where frequent outages make EV charging impossible but at present deployment will be limited those that have an itch to switch to cleaner greener alternatives and don't mind spending extra bucks.
For more information on solar charging technologies, contact the team through the form at www.evfuture.com