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Electric car charging stations arrive

Imagine being able to fuel up your car at the office. It’s now possible as a result of a recent installation at Great River Energy’s Maple Grove, Minn. headquarters. Two plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging stations were recently installed for public use.

Made by Coloumb Technologies, the charging stations are equipped with a utility-grade energy meter and network interface so energy can be precisely measured and information can be used by systems such as advanced metering infrastructures. The meter also has smart grid capabilities so the charger can be used for demand response and time-of-use pricing.

Two electric vehicle charging stations were recently installed at Great River Energy's Maple Grove, Minn. headquarters.

In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama called for putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. Although opinions vary on how quickly they’ll be adopted by consumers, PEVs could make a significant impact on Great River Energy and all utilities. The charging stations will serve as a testing ground so Great River Energy and its member cooperatives can familiarize themselves with PEV technology.

One of the stations installed is a “fast charging” option that uses a dedicated 220-volt current; the other charger offers two options: 220 volts or 110 volts.

“Electric vehicles have the potential to change our business like no other energy-using appliance has ever done,” said Great River Energy Director of Member Services and Demand Side Management Gary Connett. “We need to learn as much as we can about them to understand the effects they could have on our system and the entire power grid.”

PEVs as demand response

The new charging stations aren’t Great River Energy’s first foray into electric cars. In May 2009, the cooperative launched a program to provide low-cost, off-peak energy for charging PEVs. Known as ChargeWise, the program includes a garage-mounted outlet that would charge PEV batteries between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when demand for electricity is at its lowest and wholesale electricity is least expensive.

Charging the batteries during these hours also allows Great River Energy to “store” wind energy allowing PEVs to ultimately receive a significant amount of power from renewable sources.

Great River Energy’s member cooperatives currently offer several programs designed to maximize the use of electricity that is generated overnight, including off-peak “storage” water and space heating.

Find more news by reading the August edition of Great River News.