Speaker: Hasitha Dharmasiri of Electric Era Technologies Title: Making Fast EV Charging Work without Breaking the Grid Abstract: Electric Era Technologies develops and operates DC fast charging stations tailored for retail locations, integrating AC-coupled battery energy storage systems to overcome common grid constraints. Many sites have limited available power. A typical 4-charger installation can reserve up to 20% of a distribution substation’s capacity (often 5–15 MW total). Once installed, variable charging loads, driven by vehicle curves and utilization patterns, ultimately underutilize the reserved grid capacity. Expensive utility upgrades are frequently required to accommodate these loads. Electric Era’s closed-loop, real-time control system uses battery storage to shave peaks, enabling charging rates to actually and easily exceed the site’s physical grid connection capacity without impacting utility service or tripping breakers. The presentation includes a case study demonstrating advanced voltage regulation through volt-var optimization, where the battery system stabilizes a weak local grid by compensating for voltage changes during charging and load rejection events, enhancing overall grid reliability and accelerating deployment of high-power EV infrastructure. Bio: Hasitha “Sith” Dharmasiri is the Vice President of Software at Electric Era Technologies, a Seattle-based innovator in battery-backed DC fast charging infrastructure. He joined the company shortly after it was founded in 2019. Previously, he led the software team responsible for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network’s bus and gateway systems. Co-sponsored by: UW Seattle Speaker(s): Hasitha, Agenda: Speaker: Hasitha Dharmasiri of Electric Era Technologies Title: Making Fast EV Charging Work without Breaking the Grid Abstract: Electric Era Technologies develops and operates DC fast charging stations tailored for retail locations, integrating AC-coupled battery energy storage systems to overcome common grid constraints. Many sites have limited available power. A typical 4-charger installation can reserve up to 20% of a distribution substation’s capacity (often 5–15 MW total). Once installed, variable charging loads, driven by vehicle curves and utilization patterns, ultimately underutilize the reserved grid capacity. Expensive utility upgrades are frequently required to accommodate these loads. Electric Era’s closed-loop, real-time control system uses battery storage to shave peaks, enabling charging rates to actually and easily exceed the site’s physical grid connection capacity without impacting utility service or tripping breakers. The presentation includes a case study demonstrating advanced voltage regulation through volt-var optimization, where the battery system stabilizes a weak local grid by compensating for voltage changes during charging and load rejection events, enhancing overall grid reliability and accelerating deployment of high-power EV infrastructure. Bio: Hasitha “Sith” Dharmasiri is the Vice President of Software at Electric Era Technologies, a Seattle-based innovator in battery-backed DC fast charging infrastructure. He joined the company shortly after it was founded in 2019. Previously, he led the software team responsible for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network’s bus and gateway systems. seattle, Washington, United States

IEEE-PES Seattle and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) are hosting a tour of PSE’s transmission control center (“Load Office”) in Redmond, WA. This control center is one of many centers PSE uses to monitor and control the generation and transmission of electricity on PSE’s electrical grid, and ensure reliable service to PSE’s 1.2 million electrical customers. Participants will have the opportunity to see the Load Office in person, learn about day-to-day and emergency operations, and speak with control center operators. NOTE: VALID, GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED TO ENTER THE FACILITY. ALL ATTENDEES MUST BRING A VALID, GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID TO THE TOUR IN ORDER TO ENTER THE CONTROL ROOM. Parking is limited at this location – carpooling or ridesharing are encouraged. For more information on what a typical transmission control center looks like, here are some examples of other utility control rooms in New York and Texas: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zybnwMOK9VQ) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KatQ9Q_IQk) Bldg: Puget Sound Energy Load Office, 13635 NE 80th St, Redmond, Washington, United States, 98052

Abstract: The IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee develops and maintains networking standards and recommended practices from body area to metropolitan area networks, using an open and accredited process, and advocates them on a global basis. Among its working groups 802.11, 802.15, 802.18 and 802.19 focus on wireless communication. In this talk, we review those task groups’ current projects and activities, focusing on latest projects. We will provide suggestions on how researchers from academia can contribute and benefit from the 802 standardization process. [] Bio: Tunçer Baykas (SM) is currently associate professor at Kadir Has University. After receiving his Ph.D. degree from the University of Ottawa, he joined the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan, in 2007. During his tenure, he contributed to multiple standardization projects, including IEEE 802.15.3c, IEEE 802.11ad, and IEEE 1900.7. He served as the Chair for IEEE 802.19.1 Task Group. Between 2012 and 2014, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Tohoku University, where he contributed to the development of the IEEE 802.15.4k Low Energy Critical Infrastructure Management Standard. Between 2016 and 2019 he represented NICT in the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector, and he was the drafting group Chair of the 1A-3 and 5C-3 groups on WRC-19 agenda item 1.15. He has served as a Guest Editor for IEEE Communications Magazine and a Board Member for IEEE Comsoc MMTC E-Letters. He is currently serving as the Chair of the 802.19 Working Group, the IEEE Türkiye Comsoc Chapter, and corresponding member of the IEEE TAB COS. Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/538025