Mobile EV Charging Site (MEVCS): An innovative opportunity charging solution for PEV load shifting and challenging duty cycles

Energy Storage Microgrids

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$1,005,225

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Project Update

In 2025, the project team developed a user‑friendly optimization platform that helps schedule mobile charging stations (MCS) and construction electric vehicles (CEV) to reduce costs, emissions, and strain on the electric grid. UC San Diego and project partners selected the first demonstration at the RIMAC Facility Expansion at the University of California, San Diego campus, where only electric construction equipment will be used and supported by mobile batteries. The first demonstration showed the value of CEVs for making everyday construction cleaner and quieter for students and neighbors while testing mobile charging solutions that utility customers and contractors across California can eventually adopt. During the first week of construction, vehicle telemetry data and video were recorded and used to develop an algorithm to estimate energy consumption rates for the CEV while performing different types of tasks. This model will be used to better determine the required capacity and the optimized charging schedule for the MCS used in these construction projects. Additional demonstrations under different site conditions will be conducted in 2026.

In addition to using an MCS for CEVs, the project also demonstrated the use of an MCS as building backup power during emergency situations. Three different MCS units were tested at the UCSD DERConnect facility. The MCS units were subjected to a variety of scenarios, including performance stress tests and emulated grid outage events.

The Issue

Many fleet, municipal, and institutional EV charging sites face significant barriers to permanent infrastructure deployment due to limited electrical capacity, long utility upgrade timelines, or site constraints that prevent construction. These barriers delay electrification and increase costs, particularly at facilities with near-term charging needs or evolving land-use plans. Traditional fixed charging solutions lack flexibility to adapt to changing demand or temporary use cases. As EV adoption accelerates, scalable solutions are needed to enable charging while minimizing grid impacts and deployment delays.

Project Innovation

MEVCS introduces a mobile, semi-temporary EV charging architecture that combines battery energy storage with modular EV charging equipment. By decoupling charging capacity from immediate grid availability, MEVCS enables rapid deployment without permanent electrical upgrades. Integrated monitoring and controls allow charging to be scheduled and managed to reduce peak demand and support load shifting. The system is designed to be redeployed across sites, improving asset utilization and lowering lifecycle costs compared to fixed infrastructure.

Project Goals

Reliability: Test mobile, battery-integrated EV charging at sites with limited or no grid capacity for reliable operation.

Scalability: Prove MEVCS as a scalable alternative to permanent infrastructure for fleets, cities, and institutions.

Metrics: Measure deployment speed, usage, and grid impact reduction compared to traditional charging installations.

Project Benefits

MEVCS enables faster and more flexible EV charging deployment by avoiding costly and time-consuming utility upgrades. The system supports grid-friendly charging through load shifting and peak demand reduction while providing reliable charging access at constrained sites. Its mobile, modular design allows assets to be redeployed as needs change, improving cost effectiveness and resilience. These benefits support transportation electrification while reducing infrastructure risk for site hosts and utilities.