Although Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, which contributes to the stabilisation of energy demand, is currently being researched primarily for energy return to the grid via electric cars, it could also become a viable solution for eTrucks.
Sebastian Wolff, co-founder of FRYTE Mobility, confirms this to Mobility Portal Europe.
“This solution holds immense potential, and I am confident that we will see bidirectional charging in the next generation of eTrucks,” Wolff states.
In this regard, he highlights that some manufacturers are already making progress in this direction.
“Renault is one of the market players driving this technology forward. Given that they also manufacture trucks, we may see advancements in this area sooner than expected,” he remarks.
It is worth noting that this system offers benefits from both economic and energy perspectives.
“For the first time, logistics companies have the opportunity to generate revenue from a vehicle while it is stationary,” Wolff points out.
However, the expert emphasises that Europe faces the challenge of staying at the forefront of electric truck development, particularly amidst growing competition from markets such as China.
“There are Chinese companies manufacturing more units annually than all European manufacturers combined,” he underscores.
He adds: “We should closely follow these technologies and learn from one another.”
On the other hand, it is crucial to consider that the adoption rate of V2G will not rely solely on private research but also on governmental factors, such as energy policies and the willingness of utility companies to adopt it.
What role does FRYTE Mobility play in the eTruck sector?
FRYTE Mobility is a Munich-based start-up founded by Maximilian Zähringer and Sebastian Wolff, both of whom are engineers from the city’s Technical University.
It aims to bridge the gap between the logistics and energy sectors through software solutions.
“Our goal is to facilitate the deployment of electric trucks on the roads,” explains the co-founder.
How do they plan to achieve this? By providing a tool that integrates information about charging options and costs, enabling efficient route planning for vehicles.
“The fundamental premise revolves around an algorithm designed to optimise the ‘refuelling’ process, taking into account both expenses and time constraints,” he notes.
In this context, FRYTE Mobility is developing a reservation system aimed at minimising errors and enhancing reliability and confidence in this technology.
“In doing so, we can align the schedules of the logistics sector with those of the energy industry,” Wolff explains.
This is expected to result in lower charging costs.
Currently, the project is in the fundraising phase to secure its first round and begin collaborating with developers.
The company already has partners with whom they are working on pilot projects.
“The goal is to use the next three to six months to establish the entire chain, including the tools and systems required, and ensure that the connections and various software communicate effectively,” he elaborates.
This will enable them to demonstrate the core concepts they aim to develop for transporters and charge point operators.
“Germany is our primary market, but we are also focusing on other ones, particularly neighbouring countries in Central Europe,” he states.
Could this solution be viable for other eMobility sectors?
According to Wolff, while they are starting with trucks due to their expertise in this area, the solution is not limited to this type of vehicle.
On the contrary, it could also be applied to other modes of transport.
“The tool could be relevant for any use case where a vehicle operates on a fixed schedule or requires advanced planning, beyond simply moving from point A to point B,” he explains.
He also notes that it could serve to establish connections between different industries.
For example, he mentions the case of a car rental company with underutilised charging points, which could offer these spaces to trucks.
“In this way, when the cars are not at the depot, someone else could use those spaces to ‘refuel’ their vehicles,” he concludes.
