Shortly after bringing a line of electric semi-trucks into production, German truck manufacturer MAN Trucks, in cooperation with AW Automotive, has introduced a mobile battery energy storage system (BESS) designed to bring charging for heavy-duty vehicles to remote sites.
As Autoweek reports, MAN’s Smart Charging Cube is designed to be operated almost anywhere, with no need for a grid connection. It includes a stationary battery ranging in capacity from 500 kWh to 1,100 kWh, coupled with as many as four CCS charging ports with a power capacity of up to 400 kW.
The Smart Charging Cube can also support the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), which can deliver up to 1,000 kW of power (few current EVs can take advantage of such high charging speeds, but automakers and infrastructure providers have plans to roll out MCS rapidly over the next few years).
“The Smart Charging Cube can integrate self-generated electricity, for example from photovoltaic systems,” says MAN. “In addition, various charging functions are possible, including peak shaving, dynamic power consumption and bidirectional charging.”
The truck maker plans to sell, rent or lease these cubes to customers. A natural fit would be the construction industry, which often needs to operate excavators and other equipment at remote sites away from grid connections.
The cubes can be trickle-charged from grid power connections at currents from 32 A to 630 A, or paired with portable solar panels or other power sources.
Volvo has recently developed a similar cube aimed at the same sort of off-grid applications.
Source: MAN Truck & Bus via Autoweek