Mobile Electric Vehicle DCFC Infrastructure Deployment Opportunities

Details

• Creators:
  Motallebi, Farhang ; Sim, Evan ; Haas, Meridian ; Nazari, Shima
• Corporate Creators:
  AHMCT Research Center. UCD Dept. of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  California. Department of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Analysis Battery Chargers Battery Degradation Battery Emulator CCS1 Deployment Direct Current Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) Electrical Equipment Electric Vehicle Charging Evaluation EVSE Field Tests Fleet Safety Infrastructure Installation Mobile Applications Mobile Electric Vehicle Charging Station NACS Portable DC Fast Charger Portable Equipment Portable EV Charging

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CA25-4409 ; UCD-ARR-25-09-30-01
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; California
• Edition:
  Final Report: September 2023 - July 2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology Research Center (Calif.)
• Abstract:
  This research was conducted to identify and evaluate mobile and semi-permanent DC fast-charging (DCFC) solutions for the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) growing electric vehicle (EV) fleet. To address infrastructure gaps that delay charging station deployments and hinder fleet operations, a comprehensive evaluation framework was developed to compare mobile and semi-permanent DCFC stations and assess their applicability and adequacy for Caltrans operations with different EVs in their fleet. The study involved product search and review of candidate systems, procurement, installation, and extensive field testing of two selected chargers, the EVESCO EVES-6060-NA and the FreeWire Boost Charger 200, under diverse operating conditions. Researchers conducted comprehensive evaluations including vehicle compatibility testing, charging performance analysis, infrastructure requirements assessment, and battery management optimization. The methodology incorporated technical and economic factors such as installation requirements, compatibility with different vehicle types, charging efficiency, and battery degradation over time, measuring parameters such as charging efficiency (87-91%), power delivery (25-45kW for EVES-6060-NA, up to 200kW for FreeWire), and operational constraints. The findings revealed critical operational insights for both systems, with the EVES-6060-NA demonstrating compatibility with all of tested Caltrans fleet Electric vehicles (all seven Caltrans‑ priority vehicles) vehicle but limited public DCFC compatibility (35% success rate), while the FreeWire Boost Charger 200 analysis identified some battery degradation concerns with current operating parameters and recommended operational setpoint adjustments to extend battery life. The results highlight that while the EVESCO EVES-6060-NA offers fully mobile charging with moderate power delivery, the FreeWire Boost Charger 200 provides higher throughput but requires more site preparation and permitting. Both chargers help alleviate infrastructure constraints by allowing partial or full operation without immediate reliance on high-capacity utility connections. This study provides Caltrans with actionable recommendations for implementing mobile and semi-permanent charging solutions while highlighting critical considerations for procurement planning, operational deployment, and long-term asset management to promote the rapid and reliable electrification of their vehicle fleet.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  T65A0749 Task 4409
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4651614d36f8ca2bf29acb143f1314e61a75d24da8e510daf852df0d1fb7bbcdcb7a8b0bfe9ab971a25ec9893a047bcb89f2cba3aea4277f41cc5a8cbffec2e3
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/90477/dot_90477_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 18.96 MB ]