Emobility

E-mobility faces dynamic infrastructure challenges

One of the major challenges of the rapidly accelerating mobility transition is the availability of an adequate e-mobility charging capacity. In order to ensure acceptance of this technology, a comprehensive infrastructure must be build up to charge batteries of e-vehicles where and when it is needed. At peak times, the design of e-charging stations needs to guarantee a large number of fast-charging processes in parallel. So the main problem is the physical bottleneck of limited upstream power grid capacity – a hurdle especially for e-charging stations that are built in established areas and infrastructure.

Supporting emobility with a sustainable buffer storage solution

With this background, emobility is a highly dynamic and high-impact application for Organic SolidFlow batteries from CMBlu. Our batteries can help deal with the reality of peaking demand by offering large-scale and above all safe and scalable buffer storage. This helps relieve not only the strain on the grids and the need for their expansion, but also on the demand for numerous conflict resources, whose availability will in any case turn into another bottleneck of an accelerating e-mobility transition. So Organic SolidFlow batteries enable the emobility revolution without competing with the supply chain for lithium ion batteries needed for EVs.

In most EV charging infrastructures, buffer storage solutions will be the only way to ensure acceptable waiting periods for drivers. But even in cases of sufficient grid capacity, our batteries enable its more efficient usage by shifting loads and by shaving demand peaks. This finally reduces the EV charging station operators’ grid fees or demand charges, avoids electric service upgrade costs and defers utility infrastructure investment upgrade.

Emobility solutions meet photovoltaic power

Taking decentralized power one step further, EV charging stations can be directly connected to local photovoltaic panels. This setup would not only remove a major burden from the electricity grid but also saves grid fees or demand charges, at least as long as a stationary electricity storage device like Organic SolidFlow batteries is available to buffer the time gap between photovoltaic power production and EV charging demand.

Flexibility, scalability, mobility and safety

Because Organic SolidFlow batteries also enable flexible scaling, they can be resized to meet changing demands in the future. If more power is required, additional flow stacks can be added. Or the tank size can be increased to add capacity – even after a station has been running for several years. Ultimately, a decentralized infrastructure for EVs requires many different charging points. Our batteries are very affordable and where necessary mobile, so they can be moved to where they’re required most. And due to the non-flammability of their aqueous electrolytes, Organic SolidFlow batteries can be integrated without hesitation into all existing infrastructures such as petrol stations, industrial sites and residential areas.

Additional front-of-meter revenues

What’s more, these attractive behind-the-meter benefits of our Organic SolidFlow batteries installed in EV charging stations are bolstered by lucrative front-of-meter opportunities: Free battery capacity can be temporarily sold to the electricity markets, so energy arbitrage in the day-ahead and real-time or intraday markets together with ancillary services will generate considerable additional revenues. Finally, CMBlu will provide an integrated AI-based software platform to tap into this full value chain, from optimized battery operation to full electricity wholesale market access.