Blink Charging becomes Blink Energy, expands into energy management and storage

Blink Charging is changing its name to Blink Energy, reflecting its expansion into energy management and battery energy storage.

Energy management and battery energy storage are becoming vital parts of the EV charging ecosystem. These technologies help charging site operators avoid utility demand charges and get around limits on available electrical capacity.

Blink operates more than 48,000 networked EV chargers worldwide—a good foundation for offering energy management software and battery storage solutions to both existing customers and new prospects.

EnergyConnect, Blink’s energy management platform, works alongside Blink chargers to balance charging loads in real time, manage peak demand and help sites add chargers within their existing electrical capacity. The platform is currently deployed at 52 Blink-owned DC fast charging sites, including 26 sites using load management to control charging demand. Early utility billing data indicates that energy management is lowering peak demand. At one site, billed peak demand declined 23% within the first month of implementation.

Blink plans to expand EnergyConnect’s availability to its customer base in the US and Europe, and has identified several locations where it plans to deploy battery energy storage.

“EV charging remains at the core of our business, and our charging footprint gives us a strong foundation to address the energy challenges our customers face,” said President and CEO Mike Battaglia. “Customers want to add charging capacity while keeping electricity costs under control. Blink Energy reflects our strategy to bring charging, energy management and battery storage together to meet those needs—and build a broader recurring revenue business in the process.”

Source: Blink Energy

from Charged EVs https://ift.tt/vTZXmC0