Managing complex, energy-dense battery-electric vehicle (BEV) charging infrastructure systems is, perhaps, one of the greatest challenges the alternative power industry is currently facing.
Purchasing BEVs, for commercial and private use, is one thing but ensuring they have consistent and reliable power sources is another matter entirely.
Enter ChargePoint and Eaton with their just-announced partnership. The pair have just announced a new collaboration to accelerate EV charging infrastructure deployment in not only the U.S. but also in Canada and Europe. ChargePoint specializes in EV charging solutions while Eaton focuses on power management.
[Related: ChargePoint's new Level 2 charger is a bargain for fleets]
What's unique about this? The duo intend to integrate complex EV charging and infrastructure systems by co-developing new technologies to accelerate bidirectional power flow and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities.
Translation: A "one-stop shop" EV charging ecosystem that serves as a power source for private homes, buildings, and other systems requiring electricity. The tech not only provides electricity for transportation purposes but also enables vehicles and chargers to pump excess power back into the grid.
Another partnership bonus is the streamlined process of purchasing, designing, and deployment of the EV charging projects themselves. ChargePoint and Eaton claim that by offering joint solutions, customers will be able to better manage site power requirements, optimize infrastructure, and improve reliability while saving money.
“Customers rely on Eaton to solve their toughest power management challenges," said Paul Ryan, general manager of energy transition at Eaton. "This game-changing partnership will help do just that for vehicle charging — bringing together trusted power distribution and EV charging solutions to simplify electrification at scale.”
ChargePoint stresses that as charging infrastructure evolves and grows, core components like chargers must integrate at scale to maximize effectiveness.
“Our partnership with Eaton will deliver innovation that addresses the biggest barriers to electrified transportation,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “Together with Eaton, we will create unprecedented value for institutions that deploy EV charging, accelerating electrification, and decarbonizing the planet in parallel.”
Earlier this year we learned that ChargePoint is developing its own Megawatt charging system (MCS), a critical tool for commercial trucking. It'll be capable of bi-directional charging and enable output of up to 3 megawatts.
