EV charging station powers up unique research at Georgian College
May 31, 2013
PowerStream President and CEO Brian Bentz and Ford of Canada President Dianne Craig ceremonially energize their partnership with Georgian College for a first-of-its-kind solar power-assisted electric vehicle charging station. The station was unveiled at Georgian College’s Barrie Campus on May 31.
Georgian College students and faculty will initiate cutting-edge research on power use, quality, consumption and costing for electric vehicles (EV) thanks to a first-of-its-kind charging station supported by PowerStream and Ford Motor Company of Canada.
The station is solar power-assisted and has superior ability to collect research data and capacity to offer Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 vehicle charging to the public. Level 2 is available now and plans to install a Level 3 charger are underway. With Level 2 charging, a pure electric vehicle can charge from empty to full power in about eight hours. With Level 3, that time is reduced to less than an hour.
PowerStream has invested $250,000 in this station that Electrical and other Engineering students will use to analyze the impact and opportunities that electric vehicles create for electric utilities and society in general. The students’ research will also include recommendations on how best to manage vehicle charging patterns to optimize electricity use patterns and the electricity distribution system.
Ford of Canada has donated leases for a C-MAX Energi and a Focus Electric to be driven to collect the data for analysis, as well as two charging units. Through this station, Georgian’s Electrical and Environmental programs, and the Automotive Business School of Canada, are collaborating to advance sustainable technologies. Students will have hands-on learning opportunities to become leaders in the integration of electric vehicles, renewable energy and smart grid technology.
Georgian College engineering faculty member John McCluskey discusses the school’s new solar power-assisted electric vehicle charging station with professor Ron Sky, who spearheaded the project, which is supported by PowerStream and Ford of Canada.
The solar power-assisted electric vehicle charging station was unveiled at the college’s Barrie Campus prior to the start of the 28th annual Georgian College Auto Show. Launch participants included Georgian College President and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes, PowerStream President and CEO Brian Bentz, Ford of Canada President Dianne Craig and City of Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman.