How ETP secured its fast-charging solution
Can a portable battery generator be charged at public fast-charging points? The company ETP developed a solution – and enlisted the help of the Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory (SEEL) for testing, adjustments and final verification.
“We’re now saving our customers a lot of time, as they would otherwise have had to carry out this type of verification themselves,” says David Hansson at ETP.
A so-called e-generator – or battery generator – is an emission-free and silent alternative to a traditional diesel generator and is used in places that, for various reasons, require a temporary power supply.
When ETP Powering Solutions was commissioned to develop the electrical system for a mobile battery generator, the company took overall responsibility for the system design, component selection and software. One of the requirements was that the battery generator should be capable of fast charging using the European CCS2 standard, which is used in many public fast-charging points for electric vehicles.
"The idea is that the generator should usually be charged via a standard mains connection. But if it has been used at one location and is due to move on to the next job, you should be able to stop at a fast charger, top it up and carry on#, explains David Hansson, Business Area Manager at ETP.
When we left SEEL’s test facility, both the fast charging and the other charging and power output functions were working.
ETP Powering Solutions is based in Partille, just outside Gothenburg, and specialises in the electrification of mobile machinery such as wheel loaders, drilling rigs and autonomous transport vehicles. The company acts both as a component supplier and as an external development resource for machinery manufacturers who do not themselves possess all the expertise required for electrification.
Was unable to test its fast-charging solution in practice
ETP developed a solution for the battery generator, but then lacked the means to test the fast-charging system in practice. Their initial idea was simply to mount the components on a pallet and drive to a public charging station.
"But there are several drawbacks to that. Not least the fact that you only find out whether it works or not. If it doesn’t, we need to know where the problem lies so that we can fix the software."
Instead, they took the equipment to SEEL, a national test bed for research, development and testing in the field of electromobility and electrified transport. There, the developers were able to monitor the communication between the charger and ETP’s system and identify where in the sequence something had gone wrong. Before fast charging can begin, the systems must carry out a so-called ‘handshake’, in which they exchange information step by step and agree on the conditions. The communication was tested against the DIN SPEC 70121 and ISO 15118 standards.
The interaction between hardware and software was verified
The work went on for three days, during which they carried out tests, made adjustments and tested again.
“When we left SEEL’s test environment, both the fast-charging and the other charging functions, as well as the power output, were working,” says David Hansson.
ETP had thus also verified the interaction between the selected hardware and the company’s own software, a combination that can be used as a starting point for future electrification projects.
"We work with many small and medium-sized machinery manufacturers who face similar challenges when electrifying their products. Through our work on the eGenerator, we have built up extensive expertise in both software and hardware, and can save our customers a great deal of time that they would otherwise have had to spend carrying out this type of verification themselves."
Both small and large companies can gain access to advanced testing infrastructure here at SEEL.
An example of how SEEL’s test environments can be used by smaller development companies
SEEL can become involved at various stages of the development process, explains Danijel Miljanovic, Head of Unit at SEEL.
"This can involve anything from designing a new test in collaboration with the customer to verifying a mature product against established standards. Both small and large companies can therefore gain access to advanced testing infrastructure without having to build up the necessary resources themselves."
He notes that the ETP project is a good example of how SEEL’s test environments and expertise can be utilised by smaller development companies.
"Sometimes the aim is to create something new, sometimes to carry out a verification, and at other times you want to look for sources of error", he says.
SEEL can secure electric vehicles
SEEL (Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory) is Sweden’s national testing and research facility for electrified transport. It houses infrastructure for, amongst other things, the testing and development of batteries, electric motors and electric vehicles. The facilities can be used at various stages of the development process, from early prototypes to product verification. The aim is to ensure high reliability and good performance in electric vehicles.
Operations are carried out at three sites in Säve, Nykvarn and Borås. SEEL is jointly owned by RISE and Chalmers.
