Low-cost, high-energy batteries are beginning to do some really cool things such as replace gas peaker plants, power mainstream vehicles and kick-start electric aviation. Here’s another application to add to the list: slash electric vehicle (EV) demand charges. Say what? Demand charges are a fee that a utility charges for electricity use, based on the highest rate at which the electricity is drawn during a monthly billing cycle. These are fees beyond just the cost of electricity, and they’re thought of as paying for the overhead of the grid gear. Reports have found that these demand charges have been making public charging stations uneconomic in this early stage of the EV market. If the companies that manage those chargers passed the charges onto EV owners, most would run away screaming and never charge in a public spot again.
Business Green 15th Feb 2019 read more »
