MAN Trucks reveals Smart Charging Cube battery energy storage systems (BESS), which can range in size from 500 kWh to 1,100 kWh.
The Smart Charging Cube can also be coupled with a megawatt charging system (MCS), providing it with charging capacities of 1,000 kW.
The mobile BESS are seen as a future way to operate remote work sites when heavy-duty trucks and excavators will be predominantly electric.
Mobile battery energy storage systems (BESS) are taking on a new importance as commercial heavy-duty vehicles go electric.
But going electric doesn't always mean there are chargers available where the heavy-duty vehicles happen to be working at the time. And their time is valuable, as the owners of these fleets know.
The solution is increasingly seen as BESS power cubes, which have now been developed by several auto and truck makers.
And the latest one was just revealed by German truck manufacturer MAN, a month after it began series production of its own line of electric semi trucks.
The Smart Charging Cube can be operated almost anywhere, including a remote job site or a work yard, and it consists of a large battery coupled with its own charging station, ranging in size from 500 kWh to 1,100 kWh.
Each cube can feature as many as four charging ports with a top charging capacity of 400 kW.
And it can also be coupled with a megawatt charging system (MCS), in that case providing it with charging capacities of 1,000 kW.
Juicing Up at Megawatt Speeds
These are serious capabilities, and very few EVs in production at the moment can even take advantage of them.
But they are aimed at a rapidly approaching future in which heavy-duty electric trucks can charge at 1,000 kW, and might even need to do so in the middle of nowhere.
In such a case, a power cube can be transported to a remote location to juice up heavy-duty trucks and other equipment at megawatt speeds.
"The Smart Charging Cube can integrate self-generated electricity, for example from photovoltaic systems," MAN adds. "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 those who need to charge their EVs in a hurry just about anywhere.
Of course, mobility matters as well, and the cubes themselves can be trickle-charged at leisure with relatively modest local power connections.
But if they're positioned near a solar farm, they can easily store the generated electricity to dispense to EVs at will, requiring no connection to an existing grid or any kind of permanent infrastructure to support their operations.
Volvo has recently developed a similar cube with the identical use case in mind, permitting heavy-duty electric trucks and other equipment to operate in the middle of nowhere, relying on the cube for recharging.
The concept certainly seems to have potential in the construction industry, where electric excavators would need to operate on remote sites for hours a day, and where traditional grid connections can be scarce.
Will megawatt level charging become commonplace after 2030 for heavy-duty trucks, or are such systems going to appear far later? Please comment below.
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