Picture and press release: Potomac Edison
Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has announced that it has completed a battery energy storage project paired with two new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations and one Level 2 charging station in Frederick County, Maryland.
Fast-charging stations create significant demand on electric grids, and therefore, the bundling of the storage system with fast chargers will allow Potomac Edison to study how energy storage can help minimise the impact of such demand spikes on its network.
The system is worth $1.4 million and will be located at the Myersville Park and Ride near the Interstate 70 and Route 17 interchange. The company’s press release has said that the two fast-charging stations, also known as direct-current fast chargers (DCFC), can provide an 80% charge for most electric vehicles in less than an hour, enabling drivers to recharge during the day or on a break.
The Level 2 charging station at the site is said to be able to accommodate two vehicles for simultaneous charging and delivers eight to 24 miles of range per hour of charging.
Additionally, the company has said that the system includes a 500-kilowatt battery that provides uninterruptable electric vehicle charging and reduced the load drawn from the grid by powering the charging stations during peak times. The battery is expected to provide eight hours of uninterrupted EV charging.
“This exciting new energy storage project will provide us with valuable insights as we prepare to maintain and enhance system reliability in the future as electric vehicle adoption increases,” said Linda Moss, president of FirstEnergy’s Maryland operations.
The EV charging stations are part of Potomac Edison’s EV Driven pilot program. Through the program, Potomac Edison is installing 59 charging stations, including 20 fast-charging stations, across its seven-county Maryland territory.
The EV Driven program is designed to benefit the state’s environment by reducing auto emissions and supporting Maryland’s goal to reach 300,000 zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025.
