Project Summary
The project assesses the feasibility of Mobile Energy Buffer Unit (MEBU), for providing EV charging support in rural areas. MEBU will connect to local microgrids and energy storage devices, ensuring resilient, cost-effective, and on-demand electricity supply. Historical transportation data from two sites, including a university research farm, will be analysed to evaluate environmental impacts and quantify MEBU’s CAPEX/OPEX savings potential. The study will also design MEBU’s architecture for AC/DC power exchange at various voltage levels, plan optimal charging stations and dispatch technologies, and evaluate economic benefits, market demand, and policy implications for future market routes.
Project Achievements
The architecture for our MEBU based on the energy consumption of EVs has been designed using data from our two rural study sites. A ‘plug and play’ of battery systems can now be achieved and, based on the energy demand of electric vehicles (EVs), the total capacity of a battery energy storage system can be determined. Taking the two study sites as examples, our studies showed that there is no need to build a fixed charging station for MEBU.
Conclusions
The cost analysis showed that the utilisation of MEBU can significantly decrease the expenses associated with meeting the EV electricity demand of rural users. The construction of an EV charging network combining MEBU with stationary charging stations can economically meet the EV charging needs of rural areas. Based on this research, MEBU can also fully meet the charging needs of EVs in various cities and towns on the premise of reducing costs and hence have a huge market potential.
Next Steps
Findings of our feasibility study informed end-user needs, economic benefits and market demand hence providing valuable data to develop a route to market strategy for MEBU. We will work with the NEXUS innovation centre at the University of Leeds to conduct a range of engagement and commercialisation activities, and develop suitable business models to achieve the greatestimpactand adoption ofthe technology.
