Toyota Industries Corporation (TIC) has been developing electric
vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) since the mid-1990s. TIC premiered the
latest version of its EVSE technology at the Tokyo Motor Show in
November. In addition to using EVSEs as stand-alone chargers, the
machine company is also unveiling electric vehicle (EV) charging
stations throughout the Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. TIC
announced last week that 21 EVSE stations will be built by April 2010
in 11 locations throughout the prefecture.
Each EVSE station
will feature a 1.9kW solar panel, an 8.4kWh storage battery and
multiple charging units. These stations will be connected to local
utility grids though the solar panels will offset some of the daily demands of EV drivers. TIC announced that the company’s solar
panels will be used primarily to power restrooms, retail spaces and
emergency lighting in these stations. In the infancy of the EVSE stations, TIC will
likely be able to sell back solar-generated power in excess of demand to utilities. The solar panels are also designed to act as a
generator for lighting and emergency equipment in case of bad weather
and grid outages.
TIC’s EVSE stations answer many of the
questions that critics ask about EV charging infrastructure. The
combination of grid power and solar panels means that the EVSE stations
are tied into a reliable system while producing some of their own power. As
EVSE stations evolve, it is likely that more panels will be added to
handle higher EV volumes. The EVSE has evolved since the mid-1990s from
a basic EV charging stations to an intelligent charging solution. TIC
has added user verification and analysis features that keep track of
how much electricity is used by each customer. The company also plans
to add electronic billing capabilities to the EVSE in the near future,
thereby placating utility firms concerned about billing customers
outside of their homes.
TIC will use 20 units of the Toyota
Prius plug-in to test out the EVSE stations after April 2010. In
addition to the capabilities of the EVSE, this endeavor sounds
promising due to TIC’s role in developing the Prius from its first
generation. TIC worked with Toyota Motors to design electric
compressors and HVAC systems for the Prius that would reduce vehicle
weight along with energy consumption. This venerable company is hoping
that it can find synergy between the EVSE and the Toyota Prius, both of
which would not have been possible without TIC. If the EVSE stations in
Aichi Prefecture are successful, TIC may be in large part responsible
for paving the path for electric vehicles in Japan.
