New EV rapid charger for European fleets
An innovative 120kW rapid charger for electric vehicles offers a low cost solution for fleets that need to recharge several vehicles simultaneously.
This type of demand would normally be too great for the electricity grid, but by combining energy storage with recharging, FreeWire’s Boost Charger serves as a buffer between power networks and vehicles. By trickle charging its batteries constantly, the charger eases the impact on the grid and avoids spikes in power demand that in some countries can lead to penalties.
As an example of the challenges facing the electrification of road transport, Arcady Sosinov, chief executive officer, FreeWire, cited the example of two Teslas recharging at 120kW Tesla Superchargers outside a giant Walmart store. The two cars would draw as much electricity as the entire supermarket, he said.
“So what happens when you have several cars charging?” asked Sosinov. Even typical fuel station forecourts, he added, don’t have remotely enough power to support ultra-fast charging.
New 120kW Boost Charger
FreeWire makes two electric vehicle chargers, the 80kWh Mobi Charger capable of charging up to 10 vehicles per day at 15kW; and the new, static 120kW DC fast charging Boost Charger, unveiled earlier this month in London at MOVE 2019.
“Our new Boost Charger has the same DC output as a Tesla Supercharger but the same grid impact as a Tesla home charger,” said Sosinov.
Quick and cheap installation
Both the Mobi and Boost are infrastructure-light and swift to deploy, requiring a simple plug into mains power, compared to the months of planning regulations for the installation of typical rapid chargers.
Their ingenuity lies in their thermal management and software controls as well as the safety technology that ensures free public access in sun, rain or snow. Normally power on this scale would be fenced off behind a safety curtain.
Moreover, the Mobi Charger costs 10 times less to deploy than installing a standard rapid charging unit, and its operating costs are 80% lower, claimed Sosinov.
Test charger location without long-term commitment
As a mobile charger, the Mobi also allows filling stations, fleets and retailers the chance to test a location for its operational and commercial viability, without long-term commitment. This removes the risk of making a costly mistake by installing a charger in a location that few people will use.
Charging solution for fleets
Volvo Cars Tech Fund and BP Ventures have both invested in FreeWire, and fleet type customers are among the early adopters of the technology, with ports and car dealerships already buying the Mobi Charger to recharge multiple electric vehicles in car parks that don’t have space for charging stations. The charger’s application for light commercial vehicle fleets is also clear, with a number of fleets thwarted in their electric intentions by an inability to charge several vehicles simultaneously in the same depot.
“Fleets will switch to electric quickly,” said Sosinov, adding that the Boost Charger is designed to recharge up to 15 cars per day at rapid pace, or 25 cars at medium pace.
After a trial of two Mobi Chargers last year at a BP station in London, California-based FreeWire is now looking to expand its operations on this side of the Atlantic.
“We will be launching on a mass scale from August in the UK, and BP has plans for Germany,” said Sosinov.
