TVA and five other major utilities team up to build comprehensive DC fast charging network

Six of the eastern US’s largest major utilities have announced a plan to develop a seamless network of DC fast charging stations connecting major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast through the Midwest and South, and into the Gulf and Central Plains regions.

The newly-formed Electric Highway Coalition is made up of American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy, Southern Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The utilities are all taking steps to expand EV charging solutions within their service territories.

The goal of the effort is to provide drivers with convenient charging options that enable long distance EV travel. Coalition members are considering sites along major highway routes with easy highway access and amenities for travelers. The aim is to get drivers charged and back on the road in approximately 20-30 minutes.

The Electric Highway Coalition says that other utilities are welcome to join the group and extend the reach of the network. It also looks forward to working with other regional utility transportation corridor electrification initiatives.

“Together, we can power the electric road trip of tomorrow by ensuring seamless travel across a large region of the US,” said TVA CEO Jeff Lyash. “This is one of many strategic partnerships that TVA is building to increase the number of electric vehicles to well over 200,000 in the Tennessee Valley by 2028. EV adoption will spur jobs and economic investment in the region, keep refueling dollars in the local economy, reduce the region’s largest source of carbon emissions, and save drivers and businesses money.”

Proterra to deliver over 320 V2G-equipped school buses to Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland has approved a contract with Highland Electric Transportation, a provider of turnkey electric fleet solutions, to convert its school bus fleet to all-electric, starting with 326 school buses over the next four years. This project is said to be the largest single procurement to date of electric school buses in North America.

Montgomery County Public Schools operates some 200 schools, and operates a fleet of over 1,400 school buses.

Highland and its project partners, including Thomas Built Buses, Proterra, and Annapolis-based American Bus, will electrify all five of MCPS’s bus depots, and will supply the electric school buses along with managed charging services. Highland will purchase buses manufactured in North Carolina by Thomas Built Buses, which will be supplied and serviced by American Bus.

Thomas’s electric Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school bus is powered by Proterra’s EV platform. The Jouley couples 226 kWh of total energy capacity with a Proterra Powered drivetrain to deliver a range of up to 135 miles.

The project was awarded an $817,000 grant from Maryland Energy Association to help offset the purchase cost of the vehicles.

“I figured that at some point electric bus prices would fall enough to make it affordable, but this deal makes it affordable now,” said Todd Watkins, Transportation Director for MCPS.

“We believe this project is a great example of the power of public-private partnerships as we seek to electrify school bus fleets across the country,” said Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland.

The project also includes a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) component—the new e-buses will lend their batteries to deliver stored electricity to the local energy markets, interconnected through local utility Pepco. Highland will manage the V2G system, which is expected to reduce the cost of ownership for MCPS.

“This is the first step toward meeting President Biden’s pledge to electrify all 500,000 school buses across the nation over the next decade,” said Nat Kreamer, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy. “These school buses do double duty, providing pollution-free transportation for schoolchildren and grid services that benefit all electric customers, while also being available as mobile backup for communities affected by power outages.”

ArcelorMittal invests in electrical steel plant for EV motors

ArcelorMittal is investing €13 million in its plant in Saint Chély d’Apcher, France, which specializes in iCARe electrical steels for the automotive sector. 

The company has been undergoing a series of transformations as a supplier for the electromobility market. Its iCARe range of electrical steels for automotive traction motors is a flagship product range. The production upgrades and new manufacturing capabilities will allow the plant to produce non-grain-oriented iCARe electrical steel grades to meet the requirements of the EV market.

Rivian Adventure Network may offer 300 kW of charging power

Rivian is targeting the sporty set with its upcoming R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV. The company understands the importance of public charging infrastructure, and it plans to roll out its own network—one that will cater to its target demographic. In addition to fast chargers located in the usual locations along interstate highways, the Rivian Adventure Network will include Level 2 destination chargers at adventurous destinations such as national parks, RV parks and other popular outdoor sport locales.

One of Rivian’s first charging stations will be located in Salida, Colorado, a hub for outdoor activities that’s known as the Heart of the Rockies. River rafting, kayaking, hunting, horseback riding, backpacking, fishing and hiking are some of the activities that draw visitors to the area.

Those visitors may soon be able to get a state-of-the-art fast charge. Electrek reports that a leaked application document revealed that Rivian plans to install a charging station with a power capacity of 300 kW in Salida.

If this is for real, it’s something of a revelation, because Rivian’s announced specs for the R1T electric pickup call for a DC fast charging rate of only 160 kW (and 11 kW for Level 2 charging). Does this mean that Rivian’s production vehicles will be able to handle 300 kW? We shall see.

Rivian expects to start deliveries of the R1T pickup in June.

EGEB: US energy storage market shattered records in Q4 2020

  • The US installed more battery storage in 2020 than between 2013 and 2019, says a new study.
  • Representative Deb Haaland’s nomination for US Secretary of the Interior heads to the full Senate.
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Source: Charge Forward