ZOOZ Power is a manufacturer of power boosters that accelerate the widespread deployment of ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging.
With the ZOOZTER-100 system, the company provides energy freedom to any charge point operator (CPO), developer, or implementer.
In this way, it helps solve the “bottleneck” between the growing charging needs and the limited capacity of the grid.
As EV adoption increases, so does the demand for ultra-fast charging.
“However, the energy levels required will exceed the capacity of the current grid’s transmission and distribution systems in many areas,” explains Kevin Pugh, VP Sales Europe at ZOOZ Power, in an interview with Mobility Portal Europe.
Nevertheless, the ZOOZTER-100 “ensures there are no limitations or restrictions due to grid power issues,” he adds.
What’s interesting about the ZOOZTER-100 is that it’s a power booster – based on flywheel technology – that allows for cost-effective and efficient upgrades to existing infrastructure in line with energy demands.
“Currently, ultra-fast EV chargers can only be installed in areas with access to high-voltage lines and sufficient grid power,” notes Pugh.
He adds: “This leaves most roadways, particularly in rural areas, without viable or cost-effective solutions. Upgrading existing infrastructure in those areas could take several years, even if funding is available.”
It’s worth mentioning that the ZOOZTER-100 is available both for newly built sites waiting for power and for existing sites that are troubled by queueing or drivers not being able to get a charge due to limited infrastructure.
The company’s target markets are small and medium-sized charging hubs, whether for public charging or fleet depots, with two to ten DC chargers of 150 kilowatts or more, and grid supply of between 100 and 500 kilowatts.
ZOOZTER-100: A solution for countries with grid limitations
As ZOOZ Power enables fast and reliable charging even in areas with grid limitations, it is an optimal solution for countries facing these restrictions.
“Wherever the country is, if it has power issues in the grid, we can facilitate and enable high-power DC charging,” states Pugh.
While some markets may not encounter these difficulties when starting their projects, delays in grid improvements can arise.
“As more EVs come on board, more energy will flow into the grid, and problems will surface more quickly,” the VP Sales indicates.
He continues: “Countries that advance in the transition faster will run out of sufficient energy much sooner than those with slower adoption.“
Nevertheless, the company can help resolve issues in the short, medium, and long term.
“We can assist by providing an immediate power requirement, and when grid improvements eventually arrive, the unit can be relocated elsewhere,” explains Pugh.
Success stories and expansion projects of ZOOZ Power
One of the most interesting projects ZOOZ Power has worked on is in collaboration with Dor-Alon, one of the leading ultra-fast charging network operators in Israel.
Dor-Alon, which manages Israel’s busiest routes, approached ZOOZ Power to request its services.
“We installed a ZOOZTER-100 there in July of this year. As a result, site usage increased by more than 60%,” explains Pugh.
Thanks to this solution, the site went from having two to four chargers, allowing for approximately 166 cars to be charged per day.
“This is an incredible growth story, not only in terms of return on investment but also because of the importance it holds for drivers to access fast and reliable charging,” he notes.
Currently, ZOOZ Power has installed its technology at three sites in Israel—through partnerships with Afcon and Dor-Alon—and at four sites in Germany, in collaboration with Mer and Parkstrom.
A fifth site will open in Germany soon.
Additionally, the company has launched its first unit in the United Kingdom (UK), which has been operational since May.
“We are now working with a major charge point operator in the UK and expect to announce a site in the United States soon,” the VP Sales reveals.
“Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are the areas we are looking at, but Eastern Europe is quickly coming on board as well,” he asserts.
How the ZOOZTER-100 Works and Its Benefits Over Batteries
ZOOZ Power’s flagship product, the ZOOZTER-100, is a kinetic energy booster system that enables ultra-fast and continuous charging without the need for costly upgrades to the electrical grid.
It stores energy during periods of inactivity, converts it into kinetic energy, and then returns it to the grid.
This eliminates the need for immediate grid upgrades and facilitates ultra-fast charging when required.
The ZOOZTER-100 uses a standard three-phase connection, allowing for installation even in remote areas with underdeveloped grid infrastructure.
When it comes to energy storage for EV charging, flywheels offer several advantages over chemical batteries.
Unlike batteries, which have a limited number of charge/discharge cycles (often fewer than 10 – 15,000) before needing replacement, flywheels can provide up to 200,000 cycles over a lifespan of 15 years.
This reduces the need for frequent replacements, lowering operational costs and minimising the environmental impact associated with battery disposal.
Additionally, flywheels store energy mechanically as rotational kinetic energy, eliminating the use of toxic and flammable chemicals found in batteries.
Furthermore, the ZOOZTER-100 has the capacity to supply 100 kilowatts continuously for a period of 15 minutes—a typical car generally charges between 25-30 kWh per session.
Since cars do not always charge at maximum power to protect their batteries, any excess energy from the grid during the charging session is used to recharge the ZOOZTER-100.
This means that charging capacity is not truly limited.
In the most extreme case, if a ZOOZTER-100 is fully discharged, according to the grid power level on site, it can take as little as 10 minutes to fully recharge the drums.
Each ZOOZTER-100 can typically support between two and five chargers in parallel.
