Electric Days - Innovations - Ultra-fast charging

To promote the deployment of electric vehicles, ultra-fast charging is an essential recharging solution. This is why the EDF group's R&D is working on this new technology. A priority over long distances, it will enable recharging of a car or utility vehicle in 15 to 20 minutes, instead of the 30 minutes it currently takes to achieve 80 % capacity.

Project developed by the EDF group.

Benefits

• Recharge speed
• Long-distance recharging solution
• Independence

Currently, 8 % of the charging stations accessible to the public (50kW to 100kW) allow users to return to 80% capacity in 30 minutes. New stations already make it possible to recharge a range of 400 to 500 km in less than 30 minutes if the vehicle's battery allows it (from 100/150 kW to 350 kW).

EDF's objective is to install modular, flexible 350 kW charging stations that allow several vehicles to be recharged simultaneously, just as a filling station would, for smart management of energy needs.

For this purpose, EDF’s R&D has an electric mobility laboratory consisting of two test platforms: indoor (up to 500kW), and outdoor for full-scale tests (up to 1600 kW). In addition to these new charging stations, studies are evaluating the possibility of recharging several vehicles at the same time, compatibility with different types of vehicles and the impact of different charging combinations on the network.

Researchers are also studying the integration of these ultra-fast terminals with local renewable energy production and storage.