Foreseeson Technology Inc. is a multi-faceted technology company with capabilities ranging from electronics manufacturing services to EV charging systems. Foreseeson employs and contracts over 100 people in its 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Richmond, BC, and in 2015, began its EV Charger division. Today, the company is the largest distributor of ChargePoint chargers in Canada, and is creating its own branded EV chargers, PlugEV.
Adoption of EVs is constrained by the number of EV chargers needed to support the large-scale mandated sale of EVs and widespread range anxiety found among prospective users. The most common charging infrastructure (Level 1 or Level 2 via standard grid connections) is operationally too time consuming and inconvenient. On the other hand, fast DC EV charging, while many magnitudes quicker than Level 1 or 2 chargers, generally requires costly electrical infrastructure upgrades at the installation site and still has long lead times. Large-scale EV adoption requires fast charging infrastructure similar to that of internal combustion engine vehicles – a 5-minute stop at a charging station.
Innovative Energy Storage Systems for Cost-Effective Fast EV Charging
Foreseeson is enabling the deployment of fast DC EV charging at gas stations and other locations without the need for costly electrical infrastructure upgrades by using Energy Storage System (ESS) units to supply the large power requirements of fast chargers. Customers will be able to benefit from BC Hydro’s energy storage rebates of up to 80% on the purchase of the ESS unit, which will promote more widespread adoption of ESSs coupled with fast DC EV chargers. The end result? EV users will have greater access to a quick charge – comparable to the time it takes to gas up an internal combustion engine vehicle – without having to travel too far. This is especially valuable in remote areas of BC, where electrical upgrades are not possible or too costly.
This project, made possible by NorthX’s support, is estimated to result in about 3,700 additional EVs sold in BC by 2027 – a 2% increase over present projections.
