BESS-assisted energy management system for EV charging

Quench Chargers recently unveiled its BESS-Assisted Energy Management System for EV Charging. The platform integrates grid power, renewable energy sources, and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide a solution for EV charging infrastructure. Ravin Mirchandani, Chief Dream Merchant at Quench Chargers, shared his insights with EVreporter.

What are the different components of BESS integrated Energy Management System, and how do these components work together to deliver a reliable and fast EV charging service?

The Quench Chargers BESS system includes a DC/DC fast charger of various capacities ranging from 30/60/120/180KW to 240KW, along with a lithium battery wall with BMS and, crucially – a proprietary Energy Management System (EMS).

The EMS allows input energy to the battery wall from a renewable source like an in-situ solar or wind energy farm and the grid. The EMS also manages the energy from the battery wall to the charger and, ultimately, the vehicle. By using a DC/DC charger, the round-trip efficiency losses normally experienced due to the conversion of a solar-based DC input to AC power (to facilitate the use of a conventional fast charger) are greatly reduced. The management of energy from battery wall to vehicle is consequently far more efficient.

How does this solution address the challenges of limited grid capacity, erratic power supply and the increasing demand for fast charging?

We measure the uptime over the population of Quench chargers installed through our network operations and health monitoring centre (NOC) daily. We have found that at any given time, over 10 -12% of chargers are unable to offer charging to EVs due to power outages. This situation is particularly exacerbated in non-metropolitan areas and highways.

The Quench BESS DC/DC charger allows charge point operators to provide far more reliable charging services in remote locations, where power outages are frequent and where land is available locally to install or access a direct input feed from solar (or wind) energy generation. It has the added benefit of providing 100% green power to vehicles as well.

In developed economies, we have encountered a different challenge, which is a lack of availability of power from the grid to accommodate fast charging stations. CPOs often have to wait 12 – 24 months for allocation of power from the grid for a charging station. In such circumstances, if, say, 60KW is available from the grid, the CPO can proceed with the installation of a 180KW or 240KW BESS charger. The available grid power continuously charges the battery wall, which in turn then provides peak power beyond grid allocation when vehicles are presented for charging at the charging station. A renewable input source can also be used in countries like Australia where land and sun are abundant.

There is the added benefit of lower demand charges being paid to the grid operator. Such an installation can be deployed with or without solar energy input, as the Quench BESS system also has an AC/DC converter to manage input power from the grid to the battery wall. The EMS is dynamically able to address multiple energy input scenarios.

What key advantages does this system offer over traditional grid-dependent EV charging setups in terms of cost and efficiency?

A BESS-based DC/DC charger ensures:

• Constant availability during power outages

• The ability to install a fast charger of higher capacities where the grid may not have adequate power that can be allocated

• Lower demand charges to be paid to power companies by the CPO and

• If it is connected to a solar or wind energy generation capacity at the same location, then 100% green power is also available to vehicles.

It also eradicates the need for a diesel generator backup where this may be installed, as we have seen in the last few years.

What is the typical initial cost for a CPO to deploy this system, and how does it vary depending on location, grid connection, or required charging capacity?

The cost of a battery wall can range from US$120 – 160/kWh, so it depends on the battery capacity that the CPO wishes to install. The DC/DC charger costs are marginally different to existing AC/DC chargers.

The higher delta cost depends on whether the CPO will install a solar energy capability at the same location. Solar generation costs are also quite transparent and well-known. The costs that will vary between locations will depend on access to land for solar generation. Lithium battery and DC charger costs have been dropping rapidly over the last few years, and we expect these will continue to do so.

If the CPO can procure cheaper power through open access, then a BESS Charger system provides further cost benefits.

How does the system impact the operational costs for the CPOs as compared to traditional set-ups?

The CPO will have added opportunities for revenue in both the examples mentioned. Customers unable to charge during power outages will provide additional revenues, for which the CPO should normally be able to charge an extra delta amount. New stations can proceed even if adequate power is not available in the particular location, allowing for faster network and revenue growth. Green credits can be generated once enabling legislation in India is available (this is already the case in many developed economies).

Operational costs that will be impacted over traditional setups will be the integration of newer assets into the maintenance systems, including lithium battery walls and DC/DC converters. These are well within the competence of all CPO businesses, so we do not anticipate a major increase in costs.

In some instances if the charging station capacity is in a sweet spot for solar generation, there may in fact be lower operational costs compared to the grid (cost per unit and total month demand charges).

Can you break down the estimated ROI timeline for a typical deployment, factoring in installation, maintenance, and energy cost efficiencies? Are there real-world examples showing its economic benefits?

We are very early in the journey for a real-world example, although I suspect that there will be many in China already. Our internal estimates naturally show a faster ROI, given the opportunity to provide reliable charging regardless of power availability. I want to stress that this solution becomes all the more interesting with regard to ROI if the second life of automotive batteries is utilised. Also, solar power generation costs in India range from Rs 4 to Rs 7/kWh, so it’s easy to do the math.

Can you comment on the process or ease of deployment of this solution?

The deployment of this solution really is no different from our other chargers as it is a plug and play solution. In the event the CPO wishes to procure and deploy their own lithium battery wall, there is some customisation prior to installation with our EMS software.

What role do the system’s software algorithms play in optimising energy use, and how do they decide which power source to prioritise during peak demand?

Priorities are generally set as below:

• Renewable Energy (if available)

• Battery Source

• Grid Supply

When demand from vehicles is higher than what the renewable source and battery can supply, then the grid will always be dynamically deployed. If the EV charging demand is higher than the battery capacity continuously, then the CPO will need to consider further battery wall and associated systems.

This interview was first published in EVreporter April 2025 magazine.

Also read: Quench introduces ANPR-enabled autocharge for EV charging