As fleet operators – whether logistics companies or vehicle rental – embrace electrification, it’s essential that charging is an integral part of their strategy. Regardless of the number of EVs on their fleets, it’s essential that these valuable assets are making their contribution to the bottom line, meaning as much time as possible in service and as little time as possible on charge.
At the beginning, when EVs on fleets were few and were added incrementally, AC charging points at the depot were sufficient. But in the past few years, as EVs have taken an increasingly large share of inventory, and as batteries have become bigger – the new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter has a 113kWh capacity – charging is becoming a bottleneck. AC still has its place but it’s just not enough for most applications and so charging strategies must change to keep up.
Image: ZOOZ Power
Trying to make up the shortfall with ad-hoc public charging use isn’t ideal because cost per kWh is higher and availability uncertain: as well as presenting an operational challenge – minute-by-minute logistics planning is key to fleet profitability – this can also damage drivers’ confidence in EVs at exactly the time when fleet owners need to build it.
Even depots that made an early switch to fast charging and might have 50kW DC chargers on site are beginning to struggle as vehicles’ capability to charge at higher power increases. And even those that may have installed 150 or 200kW DC chargers may find that the local grid can’t supply enough power to meet peak demand.
Grid upgrades can solve the problem but waiting lists are already long – and growing longer, they’re time consuming, and they’re very costly. This is compounded in countries such as the UK because charge points aren’t prioritised within the planning process, and this further impacts the ability of fleets to charge. As a result, fleet operators need a solution that helps them control operational expenses and improve efficiency while overcoming constraints imposed by a limited grid.
The ZOOZTER-100 is a kinetic power booster that can bridge the gap between the growing demand for ultra-fast charging and the constraints imposed by the grid. It features our patented flywheel technology at its core and draws power from the grid at idle times and converts it to kinetic energy by running the flywheel at very high speed. When an EV is connected to the charger, the stored energy is converted back into power which boosts the grid, so that the EV receives the combined output of both.
This enables the charge point to operate at peak capacity. We’ve shown fleet customers how the ZOOZTER-100’s rapid power discharge optimises depot charging. A UK fleet operator using ZOOZTER could schedule efficient 30-minute slots: 20 minutes for charging and a 10-minute buffer for setup or delays. This structure streamlined the process, contrasting with the average, longer 30-minute charging session times at public chargers (where the vehicle is charging for the full 30 minutes). The system is also ideal for rental fleets, allowing quick charging during cleaning for rapid turnaround.
Image: ZOOZ Power
The ZOOZTER-100’s Energy Management System (EMS) optimises energy use and enhances operational efficiency by managing power flow between the grid, the depot facilities, the ZOOZTER, and the vehicles, by dynamically adjusting distribution based on real-time demand and availability. Installation is simple, it is agnostic to charger type, and space-efficient too. And while a single ZOOZTER-100 can support several charge points, its compact size also makes it simple to install more than one if required.
Some may consider battery-based solutions as a competition, but batteries suffer from several distinct disadvantages. They can’t discharge as quickly, and can’t deliver as many charge/ discharge cycles, so their lifetime is relatively short, whereas the ZOOZTER-100 is engineered to deliver 200,000 cycles during a 15-year operational life. Some of the toxic and flammable materials within batteries can’t be recycled at end-of-life, whereas our flywheel is manufactured from recyclable steel. In short, our solution is more robust, durable, cost-effective, and sustainable.
Grid upgrades are essential to support the global transition to EVs, and that’s a change we all want to see. But for areas where grid power is not yet enough to deliver the total power consumption needed for charging, we offer fleet operators an ideal solution that offers the flexibility they need as their business grows. At sites with a few years left on the lease, a grid upgrade isn’t cost-effective or even feasible in the time available, and therefore a ZOOZTER is ideal because it can simply be redeployed to the new location when the lease expires, helping to reduce capital expenditure.
And at sites where’s there’s plenty of power available now, increased demand over time – driven by more electric vehicles and changes to electric heating sources instead of gas boilers for instance, in the push to reach 2050’s net-zero targets – could make the grid limited in the future, so the ZOOZTER can be used to boost it again.
Udi Tzuri, VP Product, ZOOZ Power
Last year alone, vans in the UK covered a total of 57.8 billion miles1. That’s a staggering number that highlights the critical role that light commercial vehicles play in keeping the economy moving. It also highlights the critical importance of moving from combustion engines to electric powertrains if this sector is to contribute to improved air quality and emissions reductions.
So far this year, EVs accounted for little more than 5% of new van registrations2, with diesel still dominating the market with more than 90%2. But the balance is shifting, driven by factors such as the UK government’s intention to bring forward the combustion engine ban from 2035 to 2030, manufacturers bringing compelling new models to market, including Ford’s E-Transit and Mercedes-Benz’s eSprinter, and fleet operators wanting to strengthen their sustainability credentials.
As fleet operators in the UK, Europe, and around the world embrace electrification, we work with our customers to map out what they need – and not just for today but in the future as well. And no matter where the discussions begin, it always comes back to power. And that’s what we deliver, ensuring that EV fleets spend more time on the road working and less time plugged-in, charging.
Author: Udi Tzuri, VP Product, ZOOZ Power
1https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/summary#:~:text=car%20traffic%20increased%20by%203.0,to%2057.8%20billion%20vehicle%20miles.
