Doubling Ultra-Fast EV Charging Capacity Without Upgrading the Grid The case of “ON” Charging in Dor-Alon’s route 6 site

“ON” Charging, the largest and fastest EV charging network in Israel, is a joint venture between Afcon, leading Charging Point Operator (CPO) in Israel and Dor Alon, one of the leading energy companies that operatesover 215 gas stations and convenience stores around the count . This ensembled effort aims to address the growing demand for ultra-fast charging capabilities and provide better services to EV drivers.

The Challenge:

Although a small country, Israel is experiencing a rapid shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), leading to an increasing demand for ultra-fast charging sites across the state. Highway 6, one of Israel’s busiest roads, sees heavy traffic daily, creating a high demand for ultra-fast EV charging. However, the site’s grid connection was limited to just 300kW, far below what was needed to support multiple ultra-fast chargers. This led to slow charging speeds and long wait times, especially during peak hours, with only one ultra-fast charger and a few slower ones available. The grid limitation constrained the ability to serve more EV drivers efficiently, impacting both electricity sales and revenue from the convenience store.

The Solution:

ZOOZ Power, an experienced company with such challenges, has installed two ZOOZTER-100 power boosters along Route 6, the Cross-Israel Highway and the country’s busiest corridor. The ZOOZTERs installed along Route 6, were strategically placed at two key locations, in the north and in the south of Route 6. Apart from charging, each location offers additional facilities such as restaurants and shops which attract a significant number of drivers every day.

Accordingly, as the drawings below show, the chargers have been upgraded while the grid remains unchanged

North charging station:

Initially equipped with 2 x 100 kW chargers and 1 x 150 kW charger, it has been upgraded to 5 x 150 kW chargers, supporting a 750kW configuration while maintaining grid capacity of only 300 kW.

South charging station:

Initially equipped with 1 X 50 kW charger and 2 X 50 kW, it has been upgraded to 3 x 150 kW chargers, supporting a 450kW configuration while maintaining grid capacity of only 200 kW.

The ZOOZTER™-100 is a kinetic power booster that enhances the grid with bursts of power, enabling smooth and continuous ultra-fast EV charging without the need for a grid upgrade. This system optimally matches the EV’s charging pattern, ensuring efficient energy delivery. The ZOOZTER™-100 draws available power from the grid, converts and stores it as kinetic energy, and then discharges it back to the grid as a power burst when needed. This combined throughput is sufficient to charge an EV battery in a matter of minutes. ZOOZTER-100, along with its Energy Management System (EMS), optimizes the available power for charging by enabling the installation of additional, more powerful multiple chargers at each site without the need to upgrade the grid.

The Outcome:

The immediate installation of multiple high-power ultra-fast chargers, results in more EVs charged in a shorter period, thus enabling the CPO to gain higher revenues, faster.

North Site:

In two months, the utilization and electricity sales have surged by over 60%. The average number of cars charging per day increased from 80 to 130, and the daily average energy charged increased from 1800 kW to 2912 kW.

South Site:

In one month, the utilization and electricity sales have surged by ~50%. The average number of cars charging per day increased from 40 to 60, and the daily average energy charged increased from 1015 kW to 1507 kW.

Results Summary:

The figure below illustrates the typical charging and discharging curves of a ZOOZTER™-100 over a single day, while multiple electric vehicles (EVs) are being charged simultaneously. As shown in the graph, during peak hours (noon to 6 PM), when several cars are charged in parallel, the ZOOZTER supplements the grid’s power (resulting in a reduced state of charge (SOC) for the ZOOZTER). During periods when the maximum demand is below the grid’s capacity, the excess power is utilized to recharge the ZOOZTER. This process ensures the smooth operation of the site despite the limited grid capacity.

Ilan Dan, Afcon’s CTO:

“The ZOOZTER™-100 implementation has been a game-changer for stations expanding to ultra-fast EV charging. By harnessing ZOOZ Power Kinetic Power Booster system, we are charging EVs with shorter wait times and enhanced convenience, as more EV drivers choose to charge their EVs in our station, boosting our utilization rates and driving up our profits.”

Maor Hershkovich, Dor Alon’s VP Strategic Partnerships:

“With Afcon, we initially installed a ZOOZTER-100 at each of our two main charging stations, doubling our ultra-fast charging capacity without any grid upgrades. These stations were the first in Israel where five 150kW ultra-fast chargers ran on flywheel technology with just a 300kW grid connection, saving us from upgrading to 750kW., but thanks to the ZOOZTER-100, we maintained the same 300kW connection. The multiple chargers attract more vehicles, even during rush hour. Our stations’ reputation has grown as drivers appreciate the quick charging and the convenience of our C-store.”