California-based Enteligent is taking pre-orders for a DC-to-DC EV fast battery charger that can be coupled with solar to reduce emissions.
Pitched as an alternative to Level 2 AC chargers, the Enteligent TLCEV T1 EVSE eliminates energy losses from DC-AC-DC conversion that would otherwise occur if installed at a location without a dedicated power source for the charger, the company said.
This setup, which Enteligent claims is a world first, allows DC fast-charging at sites that previously only had lower-power Level 2 charging. And if chargers are connected to solar setups, Enteligent says there’s no need to connect them to the grid. This reduces permitting and other complications while ensuring EVs are charged exclusively with renewable energy, further lowering their carbon footprint.
Enteligent stated its hardware can support fast charging at up to 12.5 kW and is available with Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) or CCS-1 connectors. This setup can now be purchased with a refundable $250 deposit, which will be applied toward an “early bird” price of $2,249.
Enteligent also announced that it had supplied a 25 kW DC-to-DC bidirectional charger to a “large logistics firm” to charge electric delivery vehicles, and had secured $6 million in funding for further commercialization.
Solar-powered bidirectional charging could provide the capability for EVs to serve as an emergency backup power source. Such capabilities are already available with the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck for residential applications, while General Motors has developed a comprehensive energy service system to leverage the bidirectional charging that will soon be available across its EV lineup.