Fast-Charging Infrastructure

Flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) are being deployed to support electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging infrastructure, effectively buffering the high-power demand from the local grid. When a vehicle initiates a fast charge, it draws a massive amount of power that can strain the electrical network, especially in areas with grid constraints. A FESS installed at the charging station can deliver the required high power by discharging its stored rotational energy, thus isolating the grid from sudden demand spikes. It then recharges slowly from the grid at a lower, more manageable rate, enabling the deployment of high-power charging stations without requiring costly and time-consuming grid upgrades.

Railway Energy Recovery

In the railway sector, flywheels (FESS) can provide a highly efficient solution for capturing and reusing braking energy, particularly in metro and light rail systems. When a train brakes as it approaches a station, its kinetic energy is converted into electricity by the traction motors. This energy is used to accelerate a trackside flywheel. The stored energy is then redeployed almost instantaneously to provide a power boost to the same or another train as it accelerates out of the station.

This regenerative braking process significantly reduces the overall energy consumption of the rail network, decreases reliance on the main electrical substations, and lowers operational costs.