Volvo truck dealerships embrace an innovative energy solution to power electric HGVs amidst infrastructure challenges.
- The dealerships lacked the import capacity required to charge electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), prompting a search for alternatives.
- Volvo Trucks UK identified Connected Energy’s second-life battery storage system as a viable solution, tackling grid capacity constraints.
- The E-STOR system uses pre-owned batteries, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to energy storage.
- This strategic move facilitates high-powered charging, crucial for expanding Volvo’s electric truck network.
The introduction of electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) presented Volvo truck dealerships with a significant hurdle: insufficient import capacity to support the necessary high-powered charging infrastructure. This challenge necessitated a critical assessment of available electricity capacity, which revealed a substantial gap in the ability to meet charging demands, said to be up to fifty times greater than those for electric cars.
Faced with this constraint, Volvo Trucks UK turned to Connected Energy, a company specialising in second-life energy storage systems. Their product, the E-STOR, was implemented at two dealerships in Carlisle and Enfield. The E-STOR serves as an energy reservoir, adept at storing power during periods of low demand and releasing it when demand surges. This is achieved through a sophisticated system that can be programmed to respond to on-site energy requirements and integrate with renewable sources, such as solar arrays, as exemplified at the Enfield dealership.
The core of this innovative solution lies in its use of second-life batteries, which are repurposed from electric vehicles. This not only alleviates the pressure on grid infrastructure but also provides significant carbon savings when compared to conventional systems reliant on new batteries. Matthew Lumsden, Connected Energy’s chief executive, highlighted the economic advantages, noting that E-STOR often presents a more affordable alternative to costly grid upgrades or, in certain scenarios, is the sole viable option.
Christian Coolsaet, Managing Director at Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, articulated the importance of this development, stating that as a leader in the electric truck market, ensuring access to high-powered charging at pivotal dealership locations is essential. He noted the pervasive issue of grid capacity limitations across their network, which impedes infrastructure advancements, but affirmed that battery energy storage offers a compelling pathway forward.
By integrating innovative energy storage solutions, Volvo tackles grid limitations, advancing its electric truck capabilities.
