Bridging the Grid Gap for a Faster, Smarter EV Transition
By Ryan Hooper - Head of Partnerships at Tellus Power Europe
As EV adoption accelerates across Europe, one challenge continues to surface across every deployment conversation: grid constraints. While demand for high-power EV charging grows exponentially, the capacity of local distribution networks isn’t keeping pace.
In several markets, the grid is already operating at its technical limits, stalling deployment timelines, inflating project costs, and impeding growth for Charge Point Operators (CPOs), fleet operators, and OEMs.
The solution isn’t simply waiting for grid reinforcements. It’s designing infrastructure that decouples charging capacity from grid limitations.
The Grid Constraint Problem: Why Traditional Scaling Isn’t Viable
For CPOs and commercial site operators, the standard model (select a site, install hardware, request a connection) often breaks down at the grid connection stage. Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) frequently offer connections far below operational requirements.
A site designed for 300kW of DC fast charging may be allocated just 50kW of grid capacity, sufficient only to run a single charger at reduced output.
For fleet operators, this becomes an operational bottleneck. Without adequate depot charging, electric fleets face throughput limitations, inefficient dwell times, and disrupted logistics cycles. The constraint isn’t the vehicles, it’s the available kilowatts.
OEMs offering bundled charging solutions encounter the same friction. Deploying public or customer-facing high-speed chargers often triggers lengthy grid reinforcement procedures, substation upgrades, and multiyear delays, all of which undermine commercial viability.
Microgrids and Mobile Solutions: From Backup to Primary Infrastructure
Distributed energy resources (DERs), once considered backup power, are becoming primary infrastructure for EV charging. By integrating solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, microgrids enable grid-independent charging hubs capable of operating autonomously from the distribution network.
A typical deployment can deliver:
- 1.0MWh of daily generation from on-site PV
- 500kWh of stationary battery storage for load shifting and energy resilience
- Power for up to 12 x 160kW DC fast chargers fully decoupled from the grid
This configuration does more than bypass grid limitations. It aligns with the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and the European Green Deal, both of which mandate renewable-powered transport infrastructure by 2030.
In the UK, where DNO lead times often stretch 18 to 24 months, mobile microgrids bridge deployment gaps. These systems are:
- Deployable within 48 hours of site survey
- Designed with grid-tie functionality, ensuring seamless transition when permanent connections become available
- Capable of offsetting €120,000+ in expedited grid upgrade costs
A representative case: a retail operator or supermarket chain can deploy up to 40 charging bays using Tellus Power’s 1MWh V2X containerised microgrid, generating significant revenue during grid connection delays while retaining flexibility to relocate or reconfigure as needed.
Battery-Integrated DC Chargers: A New Infrastructure Standard
Battery-integrated charging fundamentally rewrites the EV infrastructure model. These systems leverage onboard BESS to store energy during low-demand periods and discharge at high rates during peak charging events, effectively decoupling instantaneous charger demand from the available grid connection.
Key Technical Advantages:
- Grid-flexibility: A 215kWh onboard battery enables up to 280kW of DC fast charging from a 22kW AC grid connection.
- Scalable architecture: Battery modules are fully modular, supporting incremental capacity growth without requiring oversized grid infrastructure.
- Demand charge mitigation: Stored energy offsets peak grid tariffs and participates in ancillary services like frequency response and demand-side flexibility markets.
- Grid-neutral site viability: Locations previously considered non-viable, including rural sites, commercial forecourts, and constrained urban nodes, become accessible for high-throughput charging.
Tellus Power’s battery-integrated DC chargers deliver up to 600kW of output on sites with only 100kVA of grid capacity, a level of performance unattainable with conventional grid-tied DC fast chargers without major reinforcement.
The Role of Advanced Energy Management Systems (EMS)
Battery systems are only as effective as the intelligence that manages them. Energy Management Systems (EMS) provide the operational backbone for battery-integrated sites, optimising both technical performance and commercial returns.
Core EMS Functions:
- Dynamic load balancing: Real-time distribution of power across EV chargers, stationary batteries, and facility loads, maintaining optimal system utilisation.
V2G arbitrage: Enables bidirectional energy flow, selling surplus energy from vehicle batteries back to the grid during peak pricing windows. - Predictive dispatch algorithms: Machine learning models synchronise charging with time-of-use tariffs, solar generation forecasts, and network demand events.
In a trial with a major CPO, this EMS framework achieved a 24% uplift in per-charger profitability by combining time-shifting, peak shaving, and participation in flexibility markets.
Future-Proof by Design
As the energy transition accelerates, infrastructure must be adaptable to:
- A surge in renewable generation connecting at the distribution level (expected 70%+ by 2035)
- Evolving policy requirements, including likely V2G integration mandates for public charging networks
- Escalating carbon costs associated with grid-sourced electricity
Tellus Power’s technology stack is designed to evolve alongside this landscape. With OCPP 2.0-compliant, hardware-agnostic EMS, modular battery scaling, and field-upgradeable power electronics, charging infrastructure can adapt to demand growth, policy changes, and market opportunities.
The Path Forward
The EV transition isn’t constrained by vehicle readiness, it’s constrained by the grid. Battery-integrated chargers, containerised microgrids, and intelligent EMS platforms aren’t temporary workarounds. They are the next-generation standard for scalable EV infrastructure.
For CPOs, fleets, and OEMs, the roadmap is clear:
- Conduct grid constraint audits to evaluate battery-buffered and microgrid deployment potential.
- Leverage EU and national funding, including OZEV, AFIR, and the EU Innovation Fund, to de-risk investments in battery-backed charging infrastructure.
- Partner with technology-agnostic providers like Tellus Power, whose modular, V2X-ready systems are designed for both immediate deployment and long-term scalability.
Tellus Power’s consultative approach, paired with flexible hardware and software solutions, ensures that your infrastructure is not just operational today, but ready for what’s next.
Ready to deploy grid-neutral, future-proof EV charging? Book a free consultation with Ryan or connect directly with him on Linkedin to discuss how Tellus Power can transform your business.
