Zooz Energy will use its flywheel know-how to cost electrical rental automobiles at New York Metropolis’s LaGuardia airport, the Israel-based firm previously often called Chakratec introduced earlier this month.
Zooz not too long ago introduced a memorandum of understanding with an unnamed automotive rental firm to pilot flywheel vitality charging at LaGuardia starting within the second quarter of 2023.
The companion rental firm “is working hundreds of automotive rental websites in over 100 nations,” Zooz mentioned in a press launch, including that extra websites shall be thought-about if the 12-month New York pilot program is profitable.
Chakratec flywheel-based Kinetic Vitality Storage techniques for EV charging, grid-balancing
The know-how is a type of kinetic vitality storage, which depends on spinning huge flywheels to retailer vitality rather than batteries. Flywheels rotate in canisters, the place the flywheels are suspended in a vacuum. An electrical motor “spins up” every flywheel to a perfect velocity, then doubles as a generator because the flywheel “spins down,” utilizing that vitality to cost EVs.
The tech helps cut back the height load on the grid, whereas permitting greater cost energy. As the corporate has mentioned earlier than, flywheels may be positioned in some locations the place batteries wouldn’t be advisable, like inside or underground. That is notably related for automotive rental websites, the place grid constraints may restrict implementation of typical charging infrastructure, Zooz claims.
Flywheel-based hybrid tech originated in racing—and carried over to some prototypes—nevertheless it’s proven way more promise in stationary installations.
Chakratec flywheel-based Kinetic Vitality Storage techniques for EV charging, grid-balancing
Battery-boosted charging is an more and more well-liked choice for areas the place high-power grid upgrades aren’t possible, permitting quick charging from current low-voltage electrical energy service. Charging networks have found that it permits extra flexibility for fast-charging areas.
Zooz would not say which rental firm is concerned, however Hertz has introduced an intent to have tens of hundreds of EVs in its fleet from Tesla, GM, Polestar, and maybe others. BP has already been introduced as a companion to assist preserve rental EVs charged.
