Contributed Commentary by Oren Halevi, Chief Product Officer, Driivz
April 14, 2025 | Surging energy demand has electricity customers and producers scrambling for rapidly dispatchable generation and storage assets. This is not an unfamiliar spot for electric vehicle (EV) fleet operators, as energy constraints remain a top concern as the e-mobility transition continues. Luckily, integrating on-site battery storage with advanced energy management tools can help turn these challenges into a business opportunity.
These innovative solutions have already proven their worth, helping electric vehicle charging networks maximize the use of existing infrastructure, improve grid stability, and reduce operational costs. For fleet operators, charge point operators (CPOs), grid planners, and high-volume energy consumers, integrated on-site battery storage offers a way to bypass common utility-side barriers, enabling smoother fleet expansion, resilience, and cost savings. These behind-the-meter interventions are not just about overcoming obstacles. They are essential for the future of sustainable, cost-effective electric fleet management.
Battery-Buffered EV Charging
Battery-buffered EV charging uses on-site batteries that gradually store energy throughout the day from the grid or co-located renewable energy generation sources, such as solar panels. Once the batteries are full of cost-efficient energy, they can rapidly deploy electricity back into the grid as a demand-response asset or distribute energy to chargers within a microgrid. Batteries deliver a much faster load demand response than the gradual ramp-up times that conventional thermal plants require, making them ideal “peaker” plants capable of meeting the dynamic energy needs of the grid and the charging site.
A charge point management system (CPMS) can combine smart charging with an efficient battery energy storage system (BESS) and optimize energy even further. A robust CPMS features a suite of comprehensive, integrated smart energy management tools that manage charging and facilitate energy flow between vehicles, on-site assets like batteries, and the grid. It can also provide additional revenue streams to justify the cost of adding a local storage to the site.
When there’s a load surge in the system, such as plugging in dozens of EVs, the CPMS communicates with the onsite controller to discharge power to support. In addition, energy drawn from stationary battery storage can replace grid-supplied electricity when prices are peaking. When demand and/or energy prices drop, the onsite controller automatically recharges the battery via the grid, onsite renewables, or a combination of both.
EV Fleet Charging Benefits
Rising installation costs, siting barriers, and embarrassingly long interconnection cues have slowed the expansion of transmission infrastructure. For instance, only 125 miles of high-voltage transmission lines were added in the U.S. in 2024. But these challenges can be overcome with smartly-managed BESS.
BESS can defer, avoid, or reduce transmission and generation system upgrades in sites experiencing congestion from load growth by creating a dynamic bidirectional operating reserve responsive to changes in generation and demand. BESS systems help stabilize local grid power quality and support improved resilience. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that battery-buffered systems reduce power grid service capacity needs by approximately 50% to 80% compared to a charging station that is powered entirely by the power grid while offering an identical charging experience for motorists.
According to a Cox Automotive study, while only 14% of today’s fleets operate EVs, most U.S. fleets are expected to electrify by 2030. As the market matures, battery-buffered EV charging coupled with smart energy management will allow fleet operators to profit from emerging Distributing Energy Resource (DER) markets. However, accessing these markets requires integrating EV charging and energy management solutions with existing fleet management systems, such as those that schedule routes and vehicle availability.
Smart energy management can increase a site’s capacity for EV charging up to six-fold without upgrading its electrical infrastructure. When coupled with BESS, smart energy management unleashes a site’s maximum energy throughput. In addition to operational and capital cost savings, battery-buffered systems can leverage curtailment and specialized rate structures for cost savings, optimize and integrate renewable energy, and help organizations achieve decarbonization goals and improve local grid resilience.
Time is Money, So Save on Both
Battery-buffered charging delivers multiple shots on target for fleet operators, particularly in areas with limited grid capacity. By incorporating on-site battery storage and smart energy management systems, fleet operators can not only enhance the speed and efficiency of their charging infrastructure but also reduce energy costs and the need for expensive grid upgrades. The age-old adage of “time is money” applies in a compounded manner.
Pairing BESS with fleet EV charging is a compelling alternative to waiting on your utility provider. Doing the latter means paying more now and even more later.
Installing a battery onsite for a fleet, convenience store, or other site owner can be non-economical if it is evaluated by its own, however, if you combine it with the additional revenue from energy markets, the save on upgrades, and the additional chargers it can support, it can have the relevant ROI.
Oren Halevi is the Chief Product Officer at Driivz. With over 26 years of experience in designing business critical products, Oren has worked with big data and autonomous and electric car products on everything from creation to mass deployments. He can be reached at oren.halevi@driivz.com.
