Enhancing EV Charging Infrastructure with EASE
Electric vehicles (EVs) are at the heart of the transition to sustainable urban mobility, but their adoption brings challenges for charging infrastructure. Occasional power grid failures, maintenance costs, and reliability issues can disrupt charging and hinder EV adoption. To address these challenges, the project EASE (Enhancing the Charging Process to Address Electrical Stability and Efficiency) was developed and designed to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient EV charging.
Tackling the Challenges of EV Charging
Power grid disturbances such as neutral-loss faults, overvoltage, and phase loss can damage EV chargers, disrupt operations, and increase maintenance costs. Current solutions are insufficient to address these issues effectively, leaving room for improvement in both safety and efficiency.
EASE will introduce an innovative approach to these challenges by integrating two patented devices developed by Phasor Ltd:
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- Neutral Fault Protection Relay (NFPR): Protects against neutral-line loss and overvoltage, ensuring stable power supply.
- Phase Compensation Module (PCM): Mitigates phase loss, maintaining continuous charging operations.
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Together, these devices enhance the safety, reliability, and lifespan of EV chargers, offering a robust solution to the current limitations in charging infrastructure.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of this solution, EASE will conduct pilot programs in two distinct urban contexts:
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- Atidim Park, in Tel Aviv, with its 18 fixed EV charging stations, will host a six-month pilot focusing on testing safety, stability, and adaptability.
- A parking station in the city center of Thessaloniki will serve as a testbed, addressing challenges in current infrastructure prone to power grid disturbances.
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These pilots will not only validate the technology but also provide valuable insights for scaling the solution across diverse urban environments.
The success of EASE is driven by a consortium of partners, with CARNET leading the technical validation and project management, CERTH overseeing the pilot evaluations and dissemination, Cityzone coordinating the Tel Aviv pilot, Oto Parking S.A. supporting the Thessaloniki pilot, and last but not least Phasor Ltd, developing and commercializing the developed technology. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing urban mobility and achieving the goals of the European Green Deal, with support and funding from EIT Urban Mobility.
Driving Impact and Adoption
EASE aims to address the critical issues in EV charging by improving reliability and reducing maintenance costs, thereby boosting user confidence in EV infrastructure. This will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and support the European Green Deal’s goals of decarbonizing transportation and fostering cleaner urban environments. By enhancing the efficiency and safety of EV charging, EASE is paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient future in urban mobility.