Toshiba Corporation is proposing the development of an electric vehicle charging system—the “Charge Grid”—that features the deployment of its Li-ion battery storage systems (specifically, its SCiB batteries) in various areas.
The announcement was made at Smart Grid Exhibition 2010, which runs from June 16 to 18, 2010, in Tokyo. With the Charge Grid system, surplus electricity generated by photovoltaic (PV) cells is stored in rechargeable batteries and used, for example, for EV rapid chargers. The batteries are placed in various areas to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaic power generation.
The Charge Grid system consists of bidirectional inverters, lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable batteries and rapid chargers. The electricity grid and the Li-ion batteries are connected via the bidirectional inverters. And the rapid chargers are connected to the lines that connect the batteries and the inverters.
Toshiba suggested that among its benefits, the Charge Grid system would eliminate the need to construct high-voltage substation equipment, thereby reducing the cost for rapid charging.
Toshiba said it plans to commercialize the Charge Grid system in a few years. It will sell the system and provide services using the system.