Oceanside approves EV fast-charging station despite battery concerns

Oceanside has approved the construction of a high-speed, electric vehicle charging station on the site of a former automotive services yard on North Coast Highway near the Harbor Drive off-ramp from Interstate 5.

Several residents opposed the project at an Oceanside City Council meeting Wednesday, where they expressed concerns about the possibility of a fire in the large storage batteries at the facility. However, the Oceanside fire chief said there’s little danger to nearby homes and businesses.

“We’re OK with it,” said Chief David Parsons.

A burning battery can be difficult to extinguish, and in most cases the best solution is to allow the fire to burn itself out, Parsons said. However, the fire is unlikely to spread, any toxic materials released to the air dissipate within a short distance, and firefighters would monitor the blaze without getting too close.

The all-electric station will use two of the latest version of the Tesla Megapack. The batteries will store electricity taken from the grid when usage and rates are lowest, primarily at night, and use it to charge cars during the day when rates are higher.

The batteries have “a very sophisticated fire prevention system” in place, said Vaughan Johnson, chief operating officer at Rove Charging, the company that will build and operate the station.

“We find the Megapack to be the safest product,” said Johnson, adding that he expects the Tesla batteries to be widely used by electr...