GM recently attended a demonstration of Delta Electronics’ new 400 kW EV fast charger system, which promises a range of benefits and will help to bolster the EV charging infrastructure.
Delta Electronics seeks to produce innovative, clean, and energy-efficient solutions to create the EV charging infrastructure of the future. To that end, the company has developed a next-generation SiC MOSFET solid state transformer (SST)-based 400 kW extreme EV charger system that can provide charging current up to 500 Amps.
The new technology was shown at a recent demonstration event attended by Delta Electronics’ key program partners, including GM. The demonstration was made in conjunction with the GMC Hummer EV. To note, the Hummer EV includes DC fast charging capabilities up to 350 kW.
“We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the development of Delta’s advanced charging system,” said the director of Electrification Strategy at GM, Tim Grewe. “The results are encouraging, and we look forward to continued collaboration as we work toward an all-electric future.”
The new technology is expected to accelerate EV adoption by addressing issues like range anxiety and long charge times. In addition to providing 500 amps of charging current, the new Delta Electronics EV fast charger tech provides grid-to-vehicle energy efficiency as high as 96.5 percent, while the system itself weighs four times less than conventional DC EV chargers. What’s more, the technology integrates systems that are essential for smart grid applications, including reactive power compensation for voltage stabilization. The HVDC power architecture also enables a connection with renewable energy and energy storage systems to lessen the impact on the broader electricity grid during high EV charging demand.
The deployment of this new technology coincides with GM’s overarching vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. GM hopes to reach an annual EV production capacity of 1 million units in North America by 2025.
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Comments
What good is it when the grid can’t supply the power to it?
Straight up lie. Geez…
Demand charges are around $15/kW nationally, so the first time somebody charges in a month, it incurs a $6,000 bill. That’s on top of $0.13/kWh. Doesn’t sound like a small chunk of power to me.
Here is the most important part of the original Delta announcement:
said Richard Mueller, DTE Energy Technology, Standards and Interconnection manager. “A key aspect of the new technology is the ability to connect directly to medium voltage distribution and provide faster, more efficient charging compared to lower voltage chargers. This project will give DTE and its project partners significant insight into how these fast chargers can be integrated safely, reliably and with ever growing numbers into the grid.”
These chargers allow simple electrical service, small conductors, no transformer, and bump the grid-to-EV efficiency from 90% up to 96%. A win-win-win. Utility easier installation, charging system owner (lower cost installation + lower operating costs), charging system host (less real estate required for charging infrastructure, and EV driver (higher available charging voltages, lower net charging costs).
Meh:
I think this company is doing what all companies do these days: – Vastly overstate the benefits and greatly exaggerate any cost savings….. A 5% or 6% efficiency increase (if it is TRULY that much of a savings) will only in the rarest of cases cause ANY downsizing of supply facilities to it.
An uptick in energy efficiency is great! However, that’s not the news here… It’s the elimination of transformers and large utility equipment needed to supply the power to the stations. It doesn’t need that to get the voltage requirements.
meh:
Well, yeah – but as I say – there will STILL need to be very expensive 15 kv switchgear needed FOR EACH CHARGER, and as I previously stated only a few locations can handle this WITHOUT the ‘large utility equipment’ such as 23 kv or 34.5 kv locales.
This of course will be decided on a case by case basis and it is not ALWAYS decided to take advantage of this savings.
For instance NONE of the SUPER Walmarts in my area take delivery at Medium Voltage… They all pay FULL RETAIL PRICE for the electricity they use at their stores…
They did dabble in having some solar panels installed – but made the mistake of installing Fire-Prone Tesla equipment in their stores… Which they have since Discarded everywhere as being too much of a nuisance seeing as any potential cost savings was not worth the multiple stores burning down, which already happened.
I have solar panels on my home which are quite safe…. But Tesla – what with plenty of their older model ‘S’s catching fire or worse – exploding – to my mind give electric vehicles unfairly a bad name.
Sam said: “…Demand charges are around $15/kW nationally, so the first time somebody charges in a month, it incurs a $6,000 bill. That’s on top of $0.13/kWh. Doesn’t sound like a small chunk of power to me…..”
That is why most of these larger fast charger installations will include storage batteries on site to smooth out the peak demand for the month. I would fully expect the larger installations to take delivery at medium voltage (13.2 to 34.5 kv) to save on the demand charges.
That said – I have no problem with the fast charger companies to charge whatever it costs to supply the customer along with a small profit for themselves….Since costs in general are high, obviously individual consumers will use the much smaller chargers the vast majority of the time…
Around here, there is typically 1 – 350 kw charger and 6 – 150’s – and those numbers are generous… Private convenience stores around here are never installing anything bigger than about 65 kw fast chargers and are turning them into a profit center….They will recoup the installation cost relatively quickly if any number of people start using them. Obviously their business plans assume this.
In a sense – what you state is GOOD NEWS for the investor-owned electric utility… They are charging rates commensurate with the cost to THEM to provide the service.
It’s a lot simpler to just use liquid fuel.
Carl: That is why plug in hybrids (PHEVs) make so much sense….
As a for instance, My Volt gets in the high 50’s of miles firsly on electric, and then another 400 on the gas tank…. Even a somewhat high mileage driver would benefit by the reduced cost of electric refueling overnight, and using gasoline for longer trips or vacations.
Since GM has dropped this market, there is still Toyota, Stellantis, Ford, etc etc.
“clean” ? I call B.S. ! Increased demands on an already overwhelmed power grid in many areas with every additional installation of even this thing. Power needed to heat and cool homes and run businesses where people earn their livelihood. A clear fact that the entire battery powered vehicle industry completely and conveniently always ignores. Pure lobbyist propaganda!
What good is this 400kW technology when most GM’s Ultium EVs will only be able to charge at a maximum of 190kW (Lyriq and Blazer EV) and 160kW for the Equinox EV. Only the super expensive Hummer EV with the extra large double stacked battery will be able to charge at 350kW maximum. Unless GM plans on changing it’s architecture to 1000v (400kW) which will be able to take full advantage of a 400kW charger.
Jeff:
Most GM’s may not be able to use this (my BOLT EUV charges at a max rate of 55 kw for only a small portion of the time), and my upcoming Caddy LYRIQ will only go (as you say) around 160 kw most of the time, provided the CHARGER can provide 500 amperes. AT some of the chargers at convenience stores – the charge rate to the “Max 190 kw” Cadillac will only be a little greater than what the BOLT EUV can charge at.
Hyundai with ‘800 volt’ technology will beat this…. However, GM’s charge rates are fairly reaasonable when stopping for lunch while on vacation with only the existing ‘300-400’ volt technology.
GM is always Monkey See – Monkey Do…. If they see too much competitive pressure they will release 800 volt ULTIUM battery packs in a larger percentage of their electric vehicles… For now, they are keeping costs low – one of the SMART things they have done lately, in my opinion.
It won’t help us with the Bolt at all. Our max charging is 50kw. They should have fixed that in the 2023 Bolt!
It’s an okay commuter. That’s all I personally would ever consider EV for. It’s not cheap enough or the market isn’t quite there. You’d want a different car for a long trip.
I disagree. We took our Bolt from Detroit to Daytona with very little added time to the trip that we take at least annually. Most stop to eat, use restroom, stretch, let dog out etc. I am basing my opinion on personal experience.
I do think 350 or 400 kW would be very workable for most. A self-service plug and a cleaner convenience store or fast casual restaurant.
My longer trips have been with intent: on avoiding hotels when possible, making it to a place that may close early on Saturday, making it home timely to be ready for work.
The title of this article indicates this is a “fast charger”. Yet, no where in the article does it say how fast or how long it takes to charge. Why won’t they report how long it takes?
They did mention this fast charger “weighs four times less than conventional DC EV chargers”. Wow!
Hi Eric,
It depends on how fast your car accepts charge and how big your battery is. Most of the Super Fast EV Go charging centers I saw on my last trip are a max of 350kw so this is an improvement.
Eric:
Since the supply to this unit is 13,200 to 13,800 volts (so – called Medium Voltage), they are purchasing electricity from the serving utility WITHOUT the Ubiquitous HUGE GREEN pad transformer usually supplied by the utility…
I doubt these 400 kw products will be used at convenience stores – seeing as the cost of the 15 kv switchgear required makes this reasonable for only a LARGE car charging installation…
The biggest savings will be decrease in demand charges from $15 / 1000 watts / month to around $8. Most utilities provide these HUGE discounts if a customer takes delivery at other than a LOW VOLTAGE (480 or less) electric service, since no low voltage facilities are provided by them.
This is why 9 supermarkets out of 10 in my area take delivery at this “Medium Voltage”, and worry about providing low voltage through their own privately-owned transformer installed PAST the revenue meter; to save on the Demand Charges.
Of course, some utilities in my area only supply medium voltage at 34,500 volts.. THEREFORE, the charging company will in those area STILL NEED TO PURCHASE a 34.5 to 13.8 kv transformer to supply these products, and it will of course add a few percentage points of inefficiency. So it wouldn’t surprise me to find these units in ONLY the lower ‘medium voltage ‘ areas.
Sam:
That is why most of these larger fast charger installations will include storage batteries on site to smooth out the peak demand for the month. I would fully expect the larger installations to take delivery at medium voltage (13.2 to 34.5 kv) to save on the demand charges.
That said – I have no problem with the fast charger companies to charge whatever it costs to supply the customer along with a small profit for themselves….Since costs in general are high, obviously individual consumers will use the much smaller chargers the vast majority of the time…
Around here, there is typically 1 – 350 kw charger and 6 – 150’s – and those numbers are generous… Private convenience stores around here are never installing anything bigger than about 65 kw fast chargers and are turning them into a profit center….They will recoup the installation cost relatively quickly if any number of people start using them. Obviously their business plans assume this.
In a sense – what you state is GOOD NEWS for the investor-owned electric utility… They are charging rates commensurate with the cost to THEM to provide the service.
High performance battery chargers? It that where we are today? LOL, my new EV has the optional HO charger! That’s the new brag line?
Agreed Carl…. Although this particular product COULD provide cost-savings at times, its a relatively minor issue and a ‘evolutionary’ technological advance….
Rather like TV sets slowly getting transistorized while still having very large picture tubes. Which was a bigger technology advance than what is being described here..
In any case people always bought more tv sets as the prices slowly came down.
Nothing to get overly worried about here.