ADS-Tec, a provider of battery-buffered fast charging stations for electric vehicles, has installed several of its charge boxes at the Marina Palms Yacht Club and Residence in Miami. It is the first project that ADS-Tec has realised in a large residential complex. After all, the complex in North Miami Beach has 470 residential units.
Avoiding long waiting times
The challenge was to ensure that all residents of these residential units could recharge their electric vehicles within a few minutes. "The residents of Marina Palms were far from satisfied with the previously installed charging stations with AC wall boxes. Charging took several hours and the residents had to put up with extremely long and frustrating waiting times," reports George Barriere, General Manager at Firstservice Residential, which manages the Marina Palms complex. "We realised that we had to look for an alternative. However, the biggest challenge was to find a more advanced and faster charging technology that could be installed in a limited space without the need for structural work, minimised disruption and did not require costly electrical upgrades."
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This is why Firstservice Residential opted for the combination of fast chargers and storage units from ADS-Tec. This is because these can also cover larger power requirements without extensive construction work or an expansion of the grid connection.
80 per cent charging at home
The project is a contribution to the faster transition to electromobility in the US. After all, access to fast and readily available charging options is one of the biggest hurdles to the introduction of electric vehicles. In the US, this is further complicated by the fact that almost a third of the housing stock consists of large apartment blocks. At the same time, according to the US Department of Energy, more than 80 per cent of electric vehicles are charged at home.
Complicated charging situation
This poses a challenge for the development of a suitable charging infrastructure. For large residential complexes like the one in Miami, however, the charging situation is much more complicated than for single-family homes and small apartment blocks. The planners at ADS-Tec emphasise that electrifying all or even just some of the parking spaces with slower AC charge points in a complex with several hundred flats or condominiums is not a long-term solution when the number of e-vehicles increases due to the limited space and insufficient electrical equipment on site.
Not blocking the charging station for hours
The solution of choice here is the use of powerful fast charging stations. This is because the cars can then be charged within a short time and do not have to block a charging point for hours. However, it is important to minimise installation costs and still be able to supply the high power for the charging stations. This can be done by a battery storage system that supports the charging station. When no car is being charged, the battery stores electricity. If an electric vehicle driver then plugs their car into the charging station and the power demand threatens to overload the power of the grid connection, the storage unit steps in.
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One Chargebox for 100 cars
This is how the Chargebox from ADS-Tec works. With the support of the integrated batteries, it can draw power from existing grids, store it and then deliver it at ultra-fast speeds of up to 320 kilowatts per vehicle. This means that in the case of Marina Palms, with just two car parks, the Chargebox can easily charge 100 electric vehicles per week. This would require around 20 slower AC charging points, with correspondingly high construction costs.
Property companies rely on fast chargers
For ADS-Tec, the installation at Marina Palms Yacht Club and Residences serves as a model for other large multifamily buildings and flat blocks in Miami and other cities. "We are looking forward to being able to make an important contribution to the acceptance of electric mobility here, as charging infrastructure is still cited as the main obstacle to buying an electric vehicle," says Thomas Speidel, Managing Director of ADS-Tec. "Simple and fast charging is the way to the electric mobility of the future - property companies and investors are convinced of this. They have recognised the added value for customers and tenants and are already preparing for the requirements of tomorrow," says Thomas Speidel. (su/mfo)
