Searching the sky for EV charging energy sources

Yet another advanced territory has expanded — rendered more modern and greener. 

In a recent press release, two EV "HyperHubs" have been announced to open in York, Northern England. According to HyperHub project proprietor EvoEnergy, these charging stations "aim to act as a demonstration of best practice for the design of EV charging facilities in cities."

The Monks Cross HyperHub is one of the largest EV charging hubs in Northern England, EvoEnergy also claims. It features four 175kW ultra-rapid chargers that can be upgraded to 350kW, four 50kW rapid chargers, with an adjacent area having thirty 7kW chargers. 

What makes this charging station environment-friendly is how it sources energy. 

"The HyperHub also has a solar canopy which allows the site to generate its own renewable energy which can be stored in the Tesla Powerpack batteries at the charging hub, helping to reinforce the grid," the release explained. 

As we have said before, EV charging systems should also come from or conduct cleaner energy sources or measures. Given the HyperHub's sourcing of its own energy through solar power, this charging hub seems to follow this theory right on the mark. 

It makes one think that solar-powered EV charging hubs can be implemented in countries like the Philippines. We live in the tropics, after all, and we experience searing heat definitely more often than rain and gloom. If we're talking about sunlight, then we surely have an abundance of that here. 

Local oil firm Unioil appears to have been taking advantage of our perennially sunny and dry weather. According to its press release dated last year, Unioil said it "spearheaded installing EV charger outlets in gas stations. It was 2017 when Unioil installed its first EV charging unit at Unioil Congressional Ave., followed by another one at Unioil EDSA Guadalupe." 

 The Unioil Congressional Ave. outlet has a Delta AC Mini Plus Charger that supports EVs with a Type 2 plug, the oil firm said. The charger is powered by the peculiar-looking Smartflower device that absorbs solar energy.

Thanks to the solar energy, the oil company claims that the charger reduced "carbon footprint by 4.7 metric tons annually or equivalent to planting approximately 5,000 trees." 

Another local organization is also looking into the sky in search of that natural power source. First Gen Corporation's GreenWheels Project is studying how EV charging stations powered by solar energy can work. 

With the help of solar energy, First Gen's fast-charging station can give an EV unit's battery an 80% charge in 40 minutes, or a mere fraction of the 18 hours needed by a regular home charger, Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI), First Gen's partner in this project, said in a release.  

Going back to HyperHubs, City of York chancellors summarized the benefits of solar powered EV charging stations. “Our HyperHubs will allow electric vehicle drivers to charge easily and quickly using renewable energy," they said. 

And so the message is clear, literally speaking: An answer to clean energy sources for EV lies in the sky. 

Photos from EvoEnergy, Unioil, Mini, Nissan Philippines Inc.