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Tesla already does this in some locations, using stationary li-ion batteries to even out demand with their Superchargers.
by mikeash 9y ago
Tesla already does this in some locations, using stationary li-ion batteries to even out demand with their Superchargers.
- lb1lf 9y ago-We're about to try out the same idea locally, on a larger scale - ferries are about to go electric, the grid is not stiff enough to handle the peak load (4.7MW for 5 minutes every 30 minutes) and hence bunkers (for lack of a better term) containing tons and tons of li-ion batteries are needed to make for a sustainable draw from the grid. The battery storage facilities won't win any architectural awards as they are currently envisioned, but I can't wait to see whether this will actually work reliably; our first few attempts at electric ferries had some teething problems, mostly with the charge process taking too long to establish. The ferries run on a tight schedule; hence charge time dropped significantly as establishment was slow, and ferry batteries slowly depleted over the course of the day. Anyway - 4.7MW translates into some quite massive shore power connectors, and they need to mate quickly and reliably - and when the weather gets rough, everything in the surrounding environment will be soaked in salt water. Interesting times.