Electrify America on Monday announced plans to install Tesla Powerpack battery systems at more than 100 of its electric vehicle charging stations nationwide over the course of 2019.
The battery systems will be deployed to mitigate higher power demand charges and manage operating costs by avoiding or reducing demand and energy charges during peak charging periods, according to the Electrify America, which is a subsidiary of Volkswagen.
Each site will consist of a 210 kilowatt battery system with roughly 350 kilowatt-hours of capacity. With a modular design, more capacity can be added over time.
“With our chargers offering high power levels, it makes sense for us to use batteries at our most high demand stations for peak shaving to operate more efficiently,” said Giovanni Palazzo, chief executive officer of Electrify America, in a statement.
Electrify America plans to have 484 power stations installed or nearly so across the country by mid-2019. One in Hamilton County opened last year at the Ooltewah Walmart. VW plans to build an $800 million electric vehicle production facility adjacent to its Chattanooga assembly plant and hire 1,000 more people.