Chargers with integrated batteries vs. satellite batteries: what’s the best strategy for CPOs?

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With the rapid rise of electric mobility, Charge Point Operators (CPOs) are faced with a strategic question: how can they minimize costs while optimizing their charging infrastructure? Energy management is becoming a central challenge, as market demands grow and pressure on the electrical grid increases. In this context, batteries play a key role by enabling better energy distribution and reducing peak loads.  

So, which strategy offers the best route to efficiency?

Before diving into the strategies, it's important to clarify the distinction between two emerging energy storage models in EV infrastructure: chargers with integrated battery and satellite battery with independent chargers. While both aim to support energy efficiency and reduce pressure on the grid, they operate very differently. Integrated batteries are built directly into charging stations, making them compact and ideal for standalone use. In contrast, satellite batteries are large, centralized storage units that supply energy to multiple chargers at once. These two approaches reflect different visions of infrastructure development, each with its own advantages and constraints.

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Chargers with Integrated Batteries

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Chargers with integrated batteries incorporate a buffer battery that stores energy before redistributing it to vehicles based on demand. This architecture helps smooth out consumption fluctuations by reducing instantaneous power peaks on the electrical grid, thus avoiding additional costs associated with capacity overruns. Integrating advanced energy management with flexibility market integration allows energy storage and redistribution according to electricity tariffs and the availability of renewable energy. This approach is particularly effective in environments with limited grid capacity, as it optimizes existing charging infrastructure while ensuring stable and predictable charging for users.

An example of this model in action is ChargePost, developed by ADS-TEC Energy. It is an all-in-one ultra-fast charging station with an integrated battery of up to 201 kWh and a maximum output of 300 kW. It allows simultaneous charging of two vehicles (2 × 150 kW), making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Designed for quick deployment in areas with limited grid capacity, ChargePost combines performance and flexibility.

Chargers with integrated battery: pros and cons

Chargers with integrated battery offer significant benefits, particularly in urban areas where grid access is limited. Their ability to cut peak demand costs by storing energy during off-peak hours helps reduce electricity bills and eases pressure on the grid. Additionally, their quick and simple installation makes them an attractive solution for deploying infrastructure without major electrical upgrades. However, their fixed battery capacity limits long-term flexibility, making them less suitable for sites expecting future growth. Maintenance costs can also be higher per unit, which may impact profitability over time if the network scales.

📍 Ideal use case: Urban charging stations with limited grid capacity, such as city centers, parking garages, and commercial hubs.

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Satellite Batteries with Independent Chargers

In this model, the battery is positioned separately and connected to multiple independent chargers, acting as a centralised energy buffer. This approach allows energy storage during low-demand periods and optimised redistribution based on real-time needs. With advanced Energy Management Systems (EMS), stationary batteries can balance the load between multiple stations, prevent consumption peaks, and enhance grid stability. This solution is particularly suitable for infrastructures requiring rapid scalability, such as charging hubs for electric fleets or highway service areas where demand can fluctuate significantly over short periods.

A practical example is the Pixii PowerBase XL, a scalable battery energy storage system (BESS) designed for peak shaving and demand response applications. The PowerBase XL supports up to 9 PowerShaper XL cabinets, delivering 530 kW of power and 1.8 MWh of storage.  This solution offers significant energy storage capacity, providing greater flexibility. This type of infrastructure is ideally suited to fleet charging or high-power dynamic charging centres.

Satellite battery with independent chargers: pros and cons

Satellite battery with independent chargers offer advanced flexibility and scalability, making them ideal for large-scale charging hubs. Their centralised energy storage enables efficient load distribution across multiple chargers, reducing operational costs and easing grid pressure. They are also highly suitable for constrained physical locations, such as gas stations, where integrated units cannot physically fit and batteries must be hidden from view. Another key benefit is their vendor agnostic nature, allowing CPOs to decouple battery storage from charging hardware and independently optimise both elements. Although the initial investment is higher and the infrastructure setup more complex, satellite batteries remain a future-ready option for operators planning network expansion.

📍 Ideal use case: High-power recharging stations along motorways with wide variations in demand, vehicle fleet charging and limited grid capacity.

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Integrated vs. Satellite Batteries: Finding your optimal strategy

Which solution fits your charging hub?

The choice between chargers with integrated batteries and Satellite battery with independent chargers depends on operational requirements, existing electrical infrastructure, the environment in which the batteries can be installed and the installation cost. Satellite battery with independent chargers stand out for their modularity and ability to adapt to network expansion, making them more suitable for scalable charging hubs. Conversely, chargers with integrated batteries offer simplified and immediate installation, making them well-suited for urban settings where space and grid access are limited.

Cost efficiency and sustainability

Optimising load and energy management remains central to this consideration. The ability to store and efficiently redistribute energy influences not only operating costs but also the integration of renewable energy sources. The evolution of dynamic electricity pricing and the growing adoption of Energy Management Systems (EMS) now allow for more precise consumption management, optimizing the use of existing charging infrastructures while minimising additional investments in grid capacity.  The ideal solution for improving efficiency and sustainability is therefore based on an approach that combines local storage and intelligent distribution.  All of this depends on the constraints and strategic objectives of each operator, so that it can be adapted to best suit their needs.

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Real-world applications

Case Study 1: Integrated Battery Chargers by ATG and Etecnic

Faced with the transition to e-mobility, the Association of Transport of Getafe (ATG) and Etecnic, a specialist in e-mobility solutions, joined forces to tackle the challenges of electrifying freight transport in Spain.

Problem: In areas with limited electrical capacity, transport companies struggle to install ultra-fast charging stations, which are essential for their electric fleets.

Solution: To address this issue, ATG and Etecnic deployed XCharge’s Net Zero Series charger. With its integrated battery, this solution eliminated the need for costly grid upgrades, accelerating the adoption of e-mobility while optimizing costs.

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Case Study 2: Satellite Batteries by EV Connection and Gentari in Malaysia

As part of the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in Malaysia, EV Connection and Gentari, a subsidiary of Petronas specializing in renewable energy, collaborated to overcome the challenges of installing fast-charging stations.

Problem: To address these limitations in areas with limited electricity infrastructure in areas with limited electrical infrastructure, EV Connection and Gentari adopted an innovative approach by deploying energy storage systems provided by Pixii.

Solution: Acting as satellite battery with independent chargers, these systems operate independently from chargers and offer a capacity of 300 kW with 300 kWh of storage per unit. This setup efficiently manages demand peaks by supplying additional power during fast-charging sessions, all without requiring costly upgrades to the existing electrical grid.

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FLEXECHARGE: Advanced Energy Management

FLEXECHARGE has developed  Optimise, an advanced Energy Management Solution designed to maximize charging infrastructure efficiency and ensure intelligent load and energy management.

With Optimise, operators can dynamically allocate and optimise energy storage across their entire network, preventing overloads and adjusting consumption in real time based on each site's specific needs. By integrating BESS, Optimise effectively mitigates demand peaks, reduces grid-related fees, and minimises the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.

Its vendor-neutral design ensures seamless integration with any charging station, and BESS, regardless of the manufacturer. This approach guarantees full operational control and optimised energy distribution, providing EV users with a smooth, stable, and reliable charging experience.  

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