Brains in a Bar: Tech Square Explores EV Charging Technology
With gas prices steadily increasing as of late, the desire for electric vehicles (EVs) has increased substantially as well. According to the NY Times, “Sales of cars powered solely by batteries surged in the United States, Europe, and China last year, while deliveries of fossil fuel vehicles were stagnant. Demand for electric cars is so strong that manufacturers are requiring buyers to put down deposits months in advance. And some models are effectively sold out for the next two years.”
The Centergy One parking deck at Tech Square is already with the times, hosting six EV charging stations. But based on this amplified popularity, we wanted to talk with our community about EV charging stations in general, our current setup, and how it could be improved. Being the brainiacs we are, we decided a Brains in a Bar activation was the perfect setting to discuss such a topic. But in order to be invited to the secret speakeasy location, you first had to correctly solve a question, this one obviously being about batteries.
Five Tech Square ATL (TSQATL) Social Club members submitted the right answer, ultimately earning them an exclusive invite to The Rowdy Tiger, a prestigious rooftop bar in Midtown. Gathering at a small table over premier cocktails and spirits, the conversation became centered around three main topics:
The three levels of EV charging
The environmental impact of electric vehicles and EV charging
The use of Power-Line Connection (PLC) programming in EV chargers
First, the attendees – who were a mix of students, electrical engineers, and startup entrepreneurs – tackled the topic of the different levels of EV charging, dropping the following knowledge:
Level 1: Takes 11-20 hours to charge the average electrical vehicle
Level 2: Takes 3-8 hours to charge the average electrical vehicle
Level 3 (Superchargers): Takes only 30 minutes to charge the average electrical vehicle
In terms of the environmental component of EVs and EV charging stations, the discussion turned to ethically-sourced electricity and whether or not the majority of EV chargers used renewable sources. Everyone agreed that regardless, even the dirtiest of electrical grids were still better than non-renewable fossil fuels, even though they aren’t going away anytime soon.
Lastly, the group dove into the usage of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) in EV chargers, stating that it’s a must-have in today’s electric vehicle market. A PLC, which is a computer-based system for controlling mechanical and electrical/electronic processes, allows for automation, shorter installation time, and faster commissioning through programming rather than wiring.
In addition to everything we uncovered about EV charging stations, we also used the opportunity to learn more about our community as well. For instance, a majority of college-aged participants showed interest in EVs being their first vehicle purchase. More so, member and attendee Kwame Ofori is the founder of an EV charging station startup called Juicy Power (JP), which he proclaims “Is an electric vehicle charging startup in Atlanta, GA. JP installs and operates private and public EV fast-charging options in and near disadvantaged and under-serviced communities, making EV ownership more affordable, accessible, and equitable to all!"
And while it will take significant time to shift to a completely EV world, big automakers are planning to introduce several new models later this year – which is exciting news for all.
Would you be interested in driving an electric vehicle? Let us know in the comments below.