ABC, Quench partnership signals ‘important development’ for EV charging stations in US

Advanced Battery Concepts is set to deploy its bipolar lead battery storage tech for the developing US market to power electric vehicles in collaboration with Quench EV Chargers.

“This is an important moment in the future evolution of the US charging market,” says one lead battery commentator. “The US needs to urgently adopt a charging regime given the amount of EVs that some are predicting will be driven in just seven years’ time. The country is already well behind proposed charging station targets outside of states such as California.

“The arguments over the viability of using lead bat- teries — in terms of price and also recyclability are clear — and the notion of using an advanced bipolar one with its better performance over conventional ones makes this project a potential winner for lead.”

The ABC/Quench partnership builds on the economic advantages of using lead batteries in charging stations were first shown in a 2019 study in the US state of Missouri. Part of the difference between then and now will be the use of ABC’s bipolar batteries which give a superior performance against other lead types.

ABC and Quench announced on June 15 they were partnering to help give “unwavering confidence” to EV drivers embarking on journeys.

ABC’s energy storage systems can be sited in remote locations to help tackle issues of peak draw from charging stations and to reduce demand and associated power costs for each charging location.

The partners said the US government predicts a need for 2.5 million EV charging sites by 2030.

However, they said there are doubts that the US electrical power grid can support what would represent a 28% annual growth rate between now and 2030.

ABC president Michael

Everett said: “That’s a big concern.”

He said the company’s EverGreenSeal battery tech levels demand peaks and reduces costs to consumers by sourcing in-coming electricity during off-peak hours.

The BESS also minimizes charging station time-ofuse because direct DC-toDC charging is faster and more efficient than ACto-DC charging — which Everett said is the current charging station norm.

And with a constant supply of energy to the charger, “faster charging means lower per-visit time, cost and allows more EVs to refill per hour”.