There's been a long running assumption that electric vehicle charging stations must be above ground, such as parking lots and, in some cases, parking garages. But what about underground charging alternatives? Are there benefits? Negatives?
That's what French firm Kempower, a manufacturer of DC fast-charging solutions, together with its business partner, Provirdis, a clean energy infrastructure specialist also based in France, wanted to find out.
Provirdis has designed and tested an underground DC fast-charging solution which, combined with Kempower's equipment, completely eliminates the need for on-ground charging stations. These stations typically require significant amounts of space (as much as 20% of existing truck parking capacity), especially for commercial battery-electrics, that could often be used for other real estate purposes.
Alternatively, this method allows for parking spots at charging depots to be retained. In other words, building underground charging stations is a better use of often limited space.
Placing DC fast chargers underground can allow for additional parking capacity that's normally hindered by above ground charging.Kempower
“Many fleet operators are committed to more sustainable operations, but they require solutions that maintain the capacity and normal functioning of their locations in order to protect their business," said Cedric Moret, head of French market sales for Kempower. "It has unfortunately become commonplace for some loss of parking space to become normalized when installing charging infrastructure, which is why we are so excited by the new possibilities created with Proviridis’ underground solution."
Provirdis recently conducted a first of its kind underground trial program with Kempower's control unit hardware, which is connected to and gets its power from an above ground 600kW power unit. The companies claim that, following successful testing, this charging method also provides a cheaper alternative to procuring and installing the overhead gantry system a majority of above ground charging depots require. Kempower says its infrastructure design currently provides enough power for up to eight chargers and is compatible with both an overground satellite charger as well as the dock-based control unit.
[Related: ChargePoint's new Level 2 charger is a bargain for fleets]
There's another major advantage to underground charging: protection from damage, whether weather-related or even vandalism. Kempower adds that its control unit is durable enough to withstand a range of temperatures and conditions and requires minimal ventilation.
Thanks to the infrastructure's adaptability, additional charging solutions are possible for other fleet vehicles such as electrified buses. The next testing phase will see Provirdis expand its charging solution model to other locations in France with Kempower's fast-charging equipment.
