Grids

Toyota Develops Solar Charging Station for PHVs and EVs

The electricity generated by the solar cells is first stored in storage batteries and then used to charge electric vehicles. Showa Shell Sekiyu KK and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. also announced in August 2009 that they would jointly develop a similar system.

This time, Toyota Industries exhibited charging equipment to be used at a charging station. It has a communication function and can supply 100 to 200 volts of electricity. Mobile networks and LANs are expected to be used to transmit the authentication information of users, the amount of charge and so forth to a data center.

The municipal government of Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, adopted it, planning to build 21 stations at 11 places such as the municipal office, its branch offices, train stations, etc. The city will start the operation of those charging stations with 20 units of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid in April 2010.

The output of the solar panel is 1.9 kW, and the capacity of the storage battery is 8.4kWh. The maximum output of the power converter is 3.2kW (AC202V) in grid-connected operation and 1.5kVA (AC101V) in self-sustained operation.

The charging station has a solar photovoltaic system and a power storage system and is connected to the grid. The electricity generated from solar power is stored in the power storage system, and electric vehicles are charged with photovoltaic electricity and electricity from the storage system. When the stored electricity runs out, the grid electricity is used so that vehicles can be stably charged regardless of weather or time of day.

On the other hand, when there is extra electricity stored in the power storage system, it is used for the facilities in the station or sold to a utility company. When a disaster occurs, the station can provide photovoltaic electricity and stored electricity to electrical equipment that uses AC100V power.

www.toyota-industries.com/product/news/2009/41st_motorshow/pressbriefing.html

techon.nikkeibp.co.jp