Flywheel Fast Charging Station for Electric Vehicles

This proposal is to roll out a series of innovative, electric vehicle, Flywheel Fast Charging Stations (FFCS) across the UK Strategic Road Network. As well as providing rapid charging for Highways England’s own fleet, this energy system will position Highways England at the leading edge of advanced fast charging technology for the future generation of 150kW+ chargers to fast charge high-demand cars and lorries. As more FFCS are installed, their fast storage capacity can then be integrated as part of a distributed grid to allow Highways England to manage their national power demands, incorporate renewable energy, lower their carbon footprint, improve sustainability and reduce the demand on the national grid. The use of flywheels, or ‘kinetic energy storage’ specifically addresses super fast energy transfer to compliment baseload energy supplied by the grid, batteries, etc. They are ideal to build charge slowly when idle and then dump that energy at high speed into an EV at a much lower cost than batteries and with no thermal problems, no fire risk, very long life and easy recyclability. Gyrotricity is developing breakthrough flywheel performance that addresses traditional safety, cost and power loss issues. Working with centres of research excellence at a number of UK universities, Gyrotricity is ensuring that the best technology available in the UK will go into a world leading product that addresses the next phase of roading electrification and power management.