EV Power Pulse Issue #25

Current EVents

EV Industry Updates

EV Charging Companies Continue to Embrace Strategic Partnerships

The recent surge of partnerships and joint ventures in the EV charging industry reflects a strategic shift in how companies are navigating market pressures and competition. By forming strategic alliances, these companies can pool resources, mitigate risks, and combine expertise, allowing them to strengthen their offerings against resource-rich competitors and create more comprehensive offerings for customers.

The recent partnership between LG Electronics and ChargePoint, for instance, combines LG's hardware expertise with ChargePoint's software capabilities. This collaboration aims to create a new generation of EV charging solutions that could integrate with smart home systems and energy storage. The partnership is part of a broader strategy for ChargePoint to strengthen its market position by expanding its technological capabilities, diversifying its offerings, and adding new revenue streams.

A recently announced collaboration between Texas Instruments and Delta Electronics focuses on enhancing the efficiency and performance of onboard charging systems. By leveraging TI's microcontroller technology and Delta's power electronics expertise, this partnership aims to develop smaller, more efficient chargers that could significantly impact EV adoption by addressing the issues of charging speed and vehicle range.

The joint venture between Honda and Mitsubishi, ALTNA, takes a different approach by focusing on the entire lifecycle of EV batteries. This partnership will create integrated solutions, including charging, battery leasing, and even repurposing of end-of-life batteries for grid storage.

Finally, software providers Monta and Electricity Maps have partnered to reduce the carbon impact of EV charging. By integrating real-time carbon intensity data into charging decisions, this collaboration highlights how partnerships can address both the technical aspects of charging and its environmental impact.

As the EV market continues to grow, these collaborations will become increasingly common and crucial. These partnerships show how companies are leveraging complementary strengths to accelerate innovation, address market challenges, and shape the future of electric mobility.

–Steve

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Power and Policy

Florida is slow to deploy NEVI funds

Despite receiving $198M over five years from the NEVI program, Florida has yet to open applications for businesses to access these funds. This delay places Florida among the few states lagging behind in implementation.

This delay is particularly significant given Florida's position as the second-largest EV market in the nation. The state's inaction has drawn criticism from an alliance of gas station chains, including Wawa, Buc-ee's, and Busy Bee. 

These companies, represented by the Charge Ahead Partnership, are eager to diversify their businesses by installing EV chargers at their locations. Their push for Florida to expedite the funding process highlights a broader shift in the energy landscape as traditional fuel retailers seek to adapt to the growing EV market.

The delay in disbursing NEVI funds affects businesses eager to enter the EV charging market and has broader implications for EV adoption rates and consumer confidence. With stretches of up to 70 miles without active charging stations along Florida's highways, the lack of a robust charging network could hinder EV adoption and increase range anxiety among potential EV buyers.

As other states begin to unveil their first NEVI-funded chargers, Florida risks falling behind in developing a comprehensive EV charging network due to its hesitation. This delay could have long-term consequences for the state's ability to meet future demand for charging infrastructure and its overall transition to electric mobility.

The situation in Florida highlights the broader challenges facing the nationwide rollout of EV charging infrastructure. It underscores the need for clear policies and efficient fund allocation to ensure the timely development of a robust and accessible EV charging network. States like Florida continue to be bottlenecks in the expansion of US EV infrastructure, but pressure from organizations like the Charge Ahead Partnership may soon help mobilize these funds. 

–Rob 

Emerging EV Tech

Rivian Teases At-Home Bi-Directional EV Charging

Rivian recently announced its plans to develop an at-home bi-directional EV charger. The proposed 24kW wall-mounted charger represents more than just a charging solution; it's an important step towards integrating EVs into home energy management systems.

This bi-directional EV charger will be compatible with Rivian's current R1T and R1S models, as well as the upcoming R2 platform. By enabling power flow from vehicle to home, Rivian will unlock new possibilities for energy resilience and cost management for homeowners.

The announcement corrects previous misconceptions about Rivian's bi-directional charging capabilities. Both the R1T and R1S already possess the necessary hardware for DC power export, with the new charger standardizing this feature across Rivian's lineup.

Competitors like GM, Ford, and Kia have already introduced or are developing similar V2H technologies. However, Rivian's approach stands out as its compatibility across its entire vehicle fleet, both current and future.

For homeowners, this technology offers unprecedented energy flexibility. During power outages, Rivian vehicles can serve as backup power sources, potentially eliminating the need for traditional generators. It also creates opportunities for smart energy management, allowing users to draw from their vehicle's battery during peak electricity pricing periods, potentially reducing overall energy costs.

The proliferation of bi-directional charging technology could also revolutionize grid management. As more EVs become capable of providing power back to the grid, they form a huge, distributed energy resource. This network of mobile batteries could play a crucial role in load balancing, especially during peak demand periods or in areas with high renewable energy penetration.

It’s likely utility providers will soon develop incentive programs to encourage EV owners to participate in grid-supporting activities. These incentives could include time-of-use rates favoring vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power transfer during high-demand periods or direct payments for energy contributions to the grid.

Rivian's bi-directional charger announcement positions the company as a key player in the evolving landscape of distributed energy resources. As bi-directional charging technology becomes more widespread, it has the potential to transform how we think about energy storage, distribution, and consumption.

–Steve and Rob

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Until next time, stay charged!
- Steve and Rob