/EINPresswire.com/ Soon after May 5th, 2012, successful implementation of a 1.1 Mwh lithium battery storage unit at the Bourns College of Engineering Building at the University of California, Riverside, Balqon and UCR have set their eyes on even bigger goal, on making the UCR campus as the first 100% renewable energy powered transportation system. This $ 2.0 million dollar project funded by South Coast Air Quality Management District involves development of electric transportation system that is powered by Solar Power serving UCR Campus and nearby Riverside Community. Project involves collaboration between Balqon Corporation (BLQN.OB), Bourns Inc., Solar Max, Winston Global Energy, The City of Riverside, Riverside Public Utilities, Riverside Transit Agency and UCR Physical Plant. It is clear from the team assembled that this collaborative effort is just the beginning to demonstrate that electric transportation can be achieved using sustainable renewable energy without any impact on environment; True Zero Emissions Transportation.
How this Zero Emission Transportation System is envisioned to work is to capture solar energy to charge 2 Mwh of lithium batteries and use the stored energy to charge Trolley bus and other electric vehicles in the Campus creating a campus that is truly sustainable energy transportation model. Meanwhile energy stored in the batteries will also be used to power the Bourns Engineering college and CE-CERT buildings. Initial project involves setting up charging station for vehicles and converting the diesel powered shuttle bus to electric bus using Balqon drive system and battery technology. This project is just a beginning and a modest step to showcase how University campuses throughout the country can be operated using sustainable renewable energy.
With use of electric vehicles on the rise, especially with higher percentage users being young college students, it is prudent that university campuses start looking at how to create sustainable energy supply for these new EV users before the campuses get overwhelmed with electricity demand that local utilities can not support. As an example, University of Riverside has over 20,692 students, even with 1% of the students owning and operating electric vehicles in the campus , the total daily energy requirement for charging can easily exceed 6 Mwh. This combined with faculty vehicles, commercial vehicles and campus shuttle buses the total daily electricity need can exceed 10 Mwh in the next three years. UCR and AQMD vision to put together a collaborative of industry experts to start addressing the sustainability issue now is commendable and forward thinking. In addition this knowledge base can be the model for other universities that have not prepared for this eventuality.
Build it and they will come mentality of this project does have a backup plan if electric vehicle adoption is slower than anticipated. University plans include connecting the same 2 Mwh battery storage system to the grid with unused power generated by solar panels used to power campus buildings. This strategy is expected to lower energy costs in the meantime and avoid brown outs during the hot summer months in Riverside, where power outages are all too frequent. Meanwhile Balqon Corporation and other collaborative partners are busy developing technologies to create another first in the industry of sustainable renewable communities.
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