One of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) supported initiatives is a locally developed facility that can charge e-vehicles in less than 30 minutes instead of the usual six hours.
The facility is called Rapid Charging E-Vehicle Station, or simply CharM – a project by the University of the Philippines – Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UP-EEEI) with P15 million funding from the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The CharM for e-trykes, also called Charging in Minutes, is a new technology in the country.
According to PCIEERD Senior Science Research Specialist Patrick Montero, CharM is similar to a regular refueling station where the user utilizes a Chademo-compliant connector to re-charge the e-tryke. The difference lies in CharM’s ability to charge the e-tryke’s batteries in less than 30 minutes according to PCIEERD Senior Science Research Specialist Patrick Montero.
One unit of CharM equipment has been completed, with the charging infrastructure now being put up in Mandaluyong and expected to be operational by December 2014.
CharM will feature an on-board Battery Management System to balance the charge of the batteries while running. “Normally, e-vehicle runs in different environment conditions, route, load, and it affects the discharging of the batteries,” Montero explains.
It is also equipped with the Top-up Payment Scheme or Near Field Card Payment system which allows the user to charge the e-tryke without the use of actual money.
“If the technology demonstration in Mandaluyong is found successful, the government especially the Department of Energy, may consider the adaptation of CharM to sustain the E-tryke program. Since CharM is locally developed, private sectors engaged in e-vehicle technology may tie up with UP-EEEI and DOST for possible collaboration,” Montero adds. (PSciJourn MegaManila)
