GRIDSERVE and Cornwall Services have opened a 12 charger Electric Super Hub on the A30.
Complete with a state-of-the-art solar canopy there are 6 x High Power 350kW-capable chargers.
Using a combination of the existing 100kW grid connection, a lithium-ion battery, solar energy and the latest software developed by GRIDSERVE Technologies, the two legacy 50kW chargers that were previously installed at the site have been replaced with 12 state-of-the-art new chargers. This will provide much needed additional charging power on the busy route.
Whilst the site is now operational with chargers that can provide up to 350kW of power, chargers will be limited from providing full power whilst a testing and optimisation phase is worked through, which is expected to take several months.
The 1MW SEC 1000 battery is monitored by GRIDSERVE Technologies hardware and will use intelligent programming to manage its load and output. The software considers available grid connection power, the state of charge of the battery, the time of day, the solar output and the power requested by all the vehicles charging to maximise charging speeds and throughput while minimising time spent at the chargers. Future updates include more accurate predictions of future demand based on historical usage patterns, forecasting solar generation and utilising ways to match this optimally with EV charging demand.
Are you seriously considering your first or next EV? Then visit Electric Road’s CAR FINDER to get the right car for you!
To aid with future demand, GRIDSERVE has submitted planning permission to build a solar farm adjacent to Cornwall Services. This solar farm has been designed to be directly connected to the battery and chargers, to deliver up to four million zero carbon miles of energy directly into electric vehicles every year.
GRIDSERVE usage data shows a close correlation between the profile of solar energy generation and energy consumption across the chargers over the course of a day. This makes solar a good additional energy source to support the grid connection. There is also a strong seasonal correlation for Cornwall, as it is a popular summertime getaway so will experience higher visits during the time solar energy production is also naturally higher.
