Mobile Grid for Airport Electric Vehicle and Equipment Charging
Electric Power Systems (EPS) and The Port Authority of NY & NJ (PA) propose to demonstrate the use of mobile charging and microgrid infrastructure solutions to accelerate electrification of numerous medium-duty and heavy-duty (MD/HD) vehicles and equipment at JFK International Airport. Fixed charging infrastructure to support electrification comes with significant development and capital cost, involves lengthy design and construction, and places sizeable demand on the regulated utility grid. Mobile infrastructure can greatly reduce capital costs associated with charging assets as less site work is required to deploy. The speed to deploy and flexibility of operations allows EV operators to accelerate adoption schedules and to introduce strategies to offset grid peak demands. The high utilization characteristics at an airport demonstrates solutions that will expand to other industry segments. This project will study the benefits in GHG emissions reduction, total cost of ownership, and adoption rates of EVs compared to traditional fixed charging infrastructure architectures.
Our proposal is to demonstrate how utilizing mobile charging and microgrid assets can accelerate adoption of MD/HD electric vehicles. For this demonstration, the mobile grid is designed to charge: - Electric ground support equipment (GSE) including hydrant carts. - Electric buses 1) The primary study location will be at and around JFK International Airport both airside and landside. A mobile infrastructure overcomes major challenges for EV adoption as it serves gaps in the availability and locations of fixed charging infrastructure, allowing MHD equipment to go electric at an accelerated rate by rapidly matching infrastructure demands to operational demands, particularly during periods of heavy construction. This mobile infrastructure also significantly decreases the costs to deploy and operate MD/HD EVs. 2) A mobile charger avoids the large capital costs associated with fixed infrastructure by avoiding significant planning and underground work. This solution offsets utility grid demands by charging at off-peak times or locations and resupplying EVs when and where needed, which often is during high utilization hours and locations. The ability to provide opportunity charging at any location also reduces overall electric equipment need, by increasing range and duty cycles by reducing down time for charging.3) Enabling increased equipment electrification will reduce emissions of NOx and particulate matter, improving air quality for local communities and airport employees (many of whom reside in local communities). The most valuable outcome will be demonstrating a solution that is scaleable and overcomes airport-specific challenges, enabling wider adoption of electric MHD equipment in EJ communities.