Smart Charging for Heavy Duty Trucks

Introduction:

Bia deploys Smart Charging for a leading Heavy Duty Vehicle (HDV) operator with a charging depot that includes 8 double socket, 240kW chargers and 1MW of Solar PV. The depot supports long haul delivery trucks and requires a comprehensive solution that prioritizes strict adherence to departure times, energy cost management and solar PV integration (to offset grid consumption).

Challenge

Operational precision that delivers cost control, clean charging and 100% fleet availability. 

1. Integration of departure times
2. Minimize energy costs
3. Prioritize solar PV consumption 

Solution

1. Cost Optimisation:

• Off-peak charging: By scheduling charging during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower, the truck operator significantly reduced their energy costs.
• Self-consumption of PV: The smart charging system prioritized using self-generated solar power, further reducing reliance on the grid and associated costs.
• Peak load shaving: The solution helped the Transport company to avoid peak demand charges by managing charging loads during peak times.

2. Environmental Sustainability:some text
   • Reduced carbon footprint: By transitioning to electric trucks and utilizing renewable energy, the truck’s operator significantly decreased its greenhouse gas emissions.
   • Grid stability: The smart charging system contributed to grid stability by managing peak loads and optimising energy consumption.
3. Improved Fleet Efficiency:some text
   • Optimised charging times: The intelligent charging software ensured that trucks were charged efficiently and ready for operation when needed.
   • Reduced downtime: By minimizing charging times and avoiding unexpected charging issues andimproved fleet uptime and productivity.

Results and Impact

• Cost savings with cleaner charging: Bia’s optimisation engine synchronizes EV charging with on-site solar power generation, maximizing self-consumption of clean energy and minimizing grid dependence. This translates to significant cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint for the fleet, ultimately lowering the TCO.
• Cost savings with cheaper charging: The operator realized substantial reductions in energy costs due to off-peak charging and peak load shaving.
• Fleet uptime: To ensure fleet readiness, EV charging is prioritized even during periods of low solar generation. In such cases, the system will seamlessly switch to grid power, minimizing disruption and ensuring the vehicles are charged and operational, even if grid electricity costs are higher.

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Conclusion

Bia’s smart charging has made these critical and complex charging operations a success. It is clear that Bia not only understands the needs of HDV operations, but also delivers necessary expertise and technology to make it work.

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