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DOE issues $12M funding opportunity for development of cheaper Level 2 chargers
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a funding opportunity for up to $12 million to develop and produce next-gen Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) units. The tricky part is that these have to be commercially available in less than three years, smart-grid capable and cost half as much as what’s currently available.
The Grid Integration Tech Team – comprised of domestic automakers, utility companies, the DOE and national laboratories – identified two areas that need to be addressed to achieve its vision of millions of plug-vehicles on U.S. roads by 2020: reducing costs of charging infrastructure; and managing electrical loads while maintaining power reliability and affordability.
The Grid Integration Tech Team – comprised of domestic automakers, utility companies, the DOE and national laboratories – identified two areas that need to be addressed to achieve its vision of millions of plug-vehicles on U.S. roads by 2020: reducing costs of charging infrastructure; and managing electrical loads while maintaining power reliability and affordability.
The DOE says that 80 to 90 percent of plug-in vehicle charging will occur at home in the evening or overnight hours. Therefore, the Department wants to reduce the cost of residential Level 2 EVSEs in a way that goes above and beyond the cost reductions that will come with economies of scale. The DOE has set identical goals for non-residential Level 2 charging stations.
[Source: Green Car Congress]
