Battery-buffered DC chargers could play a critical role in supercharging fleet electric van uptake by slashing EV charger deployment time and costs.
Tual, a specialist in swappable powerbanks and versatile charging solutions for commercial electric vehicles, says its DC PowerUp Charger powerbanks can accelerate fleets into the EV transition by rapidly and cost-effectively relieving grid infrastructure reliance.
According to the firm, 50-80% of sites looking to electrify have constrained or absent grid connections. Grid upgrades typically take from one to three years at a cost ranging from £150,000 to £3m and averaging out at £500,000.
Combining energy storage and fast DC charging in one package, Tual’s PowerUp Charger powerbanks employ the same technology as its vehicle powerbanks, plugging gaps in grid supply and transforming marginal-use sites into viable charging locations.
Fleets and commercial landlords benefit from high-power charging up to 120kW, using energy drawn from the grid at the most efficient times.
Customers can also benefit from eliminating months in deployment time and hundreds of thousands to millions in upfront costs.
The technology is intended for deployment within 48 hours of transaction (subject to stock), with fleet operators and commercial landlords able to use the solution within hours of installation.
The Battery-Buffer Charger is designed to make full use of sites’ energy capacity, transforming an unusable site into a viable recharge location overnight. The solution draws and stores available grid power when most efficient, while renewable power sources can be integrated to avoid the need for further battery storage.
Philip Clarke, CEO and founder of Tual, said: “Whether it’s fleet operators under regulatory pressure to electrify, or commercial landlords needing to futureproof their sites, the need to accelerate EV uptake has never been greater. But the time and cost it takes to install sufficient charging infrastructure can make this unfeasible for many – especially in the case of those 50% of sites that are leased.
“The status quo is simply untenable. What fleet operators and commercial landlords need are rapidly deployable, cost-effective charging solutions that plug current charging infrastructure gaps, and get them electrifying at the required rate – but in a way that’s genuinely sustainable. In Tual’s PowerUp Charger, we’ve developed a solution that can make that mission possible, and unlock the progress that’s critical to achieving the UK’s net zero objectives.”
