Rapid electric vehicle charging project bags DOST R&D award -

By Anna Regidor

From left: Patrick Montero and Lucky John Florindo from the DOST, Loreto Carasi, Engr. Raphael Victor Canseco, Engr. Billy Joel Esquivel,Asst. Prof. Niño Christopher Ramos,Usec. Rowena Cristina Guevara,Engr. Leo Allen Tayo, Engr. Rovinna Janel Cruzate,Engr. Emmanuel Brian Arceo,Engr. Karl Lyndon Pacolor, Dr. John Richard Hizon and Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano Jr.

(JUL. 16)–A station that can fully charge an electric vehicle (e-vehicle) in 30 minutes nabbed the top prize in a recent R&D competition of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The station is the centerpiece of the Rapid Electric Vehicle Charging – Charging in Minutes (CharM) Project from the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI) of the UP College of Engineering.

CharM Project is a DOST PCIEERD-funded project which aims to support the government's e-vehicle (EV) program by developing a charging station where EVs can be replenished with charging time of no more than 30 minutes. — CharM Project is a DOST PCIEERD-funded project which aims to support the government’s e-vehicle (EV) program by developing a charging station where EVs can be replenished with charging time of only 30 minutes.

It was named the 2015 Most Outstanding R&D Award under the Energy, Utilities, and Systems Category in the Search for Outstanding R&D of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) ceremonies held in Marriott Hotel, Jun. 30.

The CharM station is similar to a gasoline station where owners can fully replenish the charge of their e-vehicles in just 30 minutes.

In addition to the charging station, the project also tests and qualifies lithium-ion batteries for e-vehicle use. A smart battery management system (BMS) that communicates with the rapid charger was also developed to enhance safety and reliability.

The CharM technical working group is composed of Prof. Niño Christopher Ramos, Science Research Specialist Leo Allen Tayo and College of Engineering graduate students Emmanuel Brian Arceo, Raphael Victor Canseco, Rovinna Janel Cruzate, Billy Joel Esquivel, Karl Lyndon Pacolor and Adrian Jay Virata.

CharM Technical Working Group composed of researchers from the EEEI (from left) Asst. Prof. Niño Christopher Ramos; Engr. Billy Joel Esquivel; Engr. Emmanuel Brian Arceo; Engr. Karl Lyndon Pacolor; Engr. Raphael Victor Canseco; Engr. Rovinna Janel Cruzate and Engr. Leo Allen Tayo. — CharM Technical Working Group composed of researchers from the EEEI (from left) Asst. Prof. Niño Christophe Ramos, Engr. Billy Joel Esquivel; Engr. Emmanuel Brian Arceo, Engr. Karl Lyndon Pacolor; Engr. Raphael Victor Canseco, Engr. Rovinna Janel Cruzate and Engr. Leo Allen Tayo.

Winners were evaluated based on the research’s scientific soundness, technical rigor, creativity and originality, clarity of presentation, and “overall impact and contribution to national programs for rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth.”

CharM project started in 2013 through the initiatives of Prof. Lew Andrew Tria of the EEEI, responding to the government’s call for energy efficiency by developing a fast-charging system for electric vehicles.

The goal of the DOST-PCIEERD’s Search for Outstanding R&D is to “recognize the research works of Filipino scientists, researchers, and engineers in the industry, energy, emerging technology, and special concerns like environment, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction and management.”

The awards have four categories, namely Industrial Technology; Energy, Utilities, and Systems; Emerging Technology; and Special Concerns. Of the 45 entries submitted for all categories this year, the three to five finalists per category were presented before a panel of judges from Mar. to Jun. 2015. Winners from each category received P500,000 in cash.—With report and photos by EEEI