PSE partners with Electric Era to demonstrate battery-backed EV fast charging technology

Innovative solution reduces grid strain while accelerating deployment timeline for fleet charging

Bellevue, Washington (4/28/2026) Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has installed a new four-port electric vehicle charging station at its Kent facility using innovative fast-charging technology. PSE is partnering with Seattle-based Electric Era to demonstrate how battery-backed Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) can deliver optimized performance while reducing strain on the electrical grid.

The demonstration project, in support of PSE's transportation electrification plan, features four charging ports capable of delivering up to 200 kW per port to serve PSE's growing electric fleet vehicles. Unlike traditional charging stations, Electric Era’s incorporates a signature battery energy storage system (BESS) with 125/220 kWh of capacity. Combined with sophisticated energy management software, the solution enables the chargers to deliver power above grid limits while intelligently managing demand and energy consumption.

Accelerated Deployment and Reduced Infrastructure Costs

The battery-backed solution delivers significant advantages over traditional fast charging installations:

• Faster deployment: Six-month process versus the 12-18-month industry standard

• Reduced infrastructure requirements: The station shares power from an existing transformer, avoiding costly utility upgrades and extended timelines

• Enhanced capacity: By intelligently using power from the grid and battery, the system can deliver power above grid limits, reducing overall grid strain

"This demonstration shows how we can help our commercial customers overcome the biggest barriers to fleet electrification," PSE Senior Vice President and Chief Customer and Transformation Officer Aaron August said. "By delivering more charging power when vehicles need it most while reducing upfront infrastructure costs and speeding up installation timelines, solutions like this make it easier and more affordable for businesses to transition their fleets to electric vehicles."

Proven Grid Benefits and Performance

Data from the station's first month of operation demonstrates substantial grid benefits:

• 70 kW peak demand reduction compared to standard fast charging solutions

• Peak power delivery of 209 kW to vehicles while drawing only 139 kW from the grid

• 96.5% first-session success rate and 99.95% uptime, exceeding industry standards

DCFC stations can draw hundreds of homes worth of power when operating at full capacity, a potentially demanding strain on utilities. Electric Era’s intelligent energy management system optimizes battery and grid utilization for intermittent high power charging loads, enables peak shaving and load shifting, manages emissions and optimizes energy costs.

"Partnering with PSE on this project in our own home region is exactly the kind of utility collaboration that accelerates the future of EV infrastructure,” Electric Era CEO and Founder Quincy Lee said. "When a forward-thinking utility and the right technology come together, the results speak for themselves — shaving significant peak demand without diminishing performance and uptime. That's not just good for PSE's EV fleet, it’s good for PSE’s customers, and it is proof battery-backed fast charging can work with the grid, not against it.”

About the Technology

Electric Era's charging stations address the significant power demands of fast charging through integrated battery storage. A typical four-charger station serves approximately 150 vehicles per day, with each two-port charging device capable of delivering power equivalent to what 200 homes consume. The battery system smooths these massive power draws, reducing grid impact while maintaining rapid charging speeds for drivers.

The Seattle-based company has deployed similar battery-backed charging solutions at Costco, Love’s, and other public charging sites throughout the country.

Media Contact:

Gerald Tracy, 1-888-831-7250, psenewsroom@pse.com