While trucks and buses comprise only two percent of vehicles on European roads, they are the second-largest source of CO2 emissions in the transportation sector.
in fact, in 2021, they accounted for 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in Europe, as reported by The International Council of Clean Transportation (ICCT).
This underscores the importance of electrifying trucks and the need for suitable charging infrastructure, and that is where the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) enters, poised as the most suitable charger for these units.
Kverneland Energi is not lagging behind in this trend, having announced the development of its forthcoming MCS-adaptable device for the near future, slated for distribution across the continent.
This two-megawatt charger will initially feature six charging outputs, each delivering 500 amperes of Direct Current (DC) and continuous output.
“As soon as the MCS standard is ready and commercially available, we will have the opportunity to upgrade,” comments Jonas Kverneland, CTO of the company, in dialogue with Mobility Portal Europe
And he continues: “We will initially launch it in Norway, but within this year, we plan to roll out the first units across Europe.”
Recently, they forged a partnership with Stangeland Maskin AS, which invests in electric machinery, and they installed a high-speed charging station for HDVs that started operating on Thursday, 20 June.
For the corporation’s CTO, megawatt charging “is essential for the future,” enabling faster charging times, though currently, there aren’t enough units compatible with this system.
“That’s why we are building charging stations with the standard CCS connector and will adapt them to MCS in the future,” explains the executive.
The Norwegian market for eTrucks and its trends
Kverneland Energi observes two critical aspects as electric trucks begin traversing Nordic routes.
The first involves their considerably larger physical size compared to conventional electric vehicles (EVs), which prevents them from using existing car charging stations, as they would occupy three or four spaces simultaneously.
The second aspect concerns the ability of chargers to deliver 300 kilowatts, this does not imply continuous operation at that power level for several hours.
The charging curve for an EV typically starts high but decreases as the vehicle’s state of charge increases.
Jonas Kverneland explains: “For instance, the Scania truck has a 600-kilowatt-hour battery and can charge at 375 kilowatts from zero to nearly 100 percent state of charge. This 375-kilowatt charging speed corresponds to approximately 0.6C.”
He continues: “In comparison, the Tesla Model Y Long Range has a 78-kilowatt-hour battery but can charge at a maximum speed of 250 kilowatts, equivalent to 3.2C, which is much more demanding for the battery.”
“If we assume similar charging rates for the Scania truck with this battery size, nearly two megawatts of maximum power installed at a charging station would be required to match this,” concludes Kverneland.
In essence, while it’s possible to use the same charging station for zero-emission cars, much more power will be needed for these applications.
Therefore, the executive suggests installing separate hubs for electric cars and heavy-duty trucks.
Regarding charger technology demands from users, Kverneland argues that reliability is paramount.
The equipment must be operational at all times, and if there are failures, they should be repaired and back in service promptly.
Moreover, meeting governmental reporting requirements is crucial, necessitating the quick identification of users, charging times, amounts charged, and accurate reporting of these data.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the Nordic region enjoys a favourable position regarding electric vehicle adoption.
“More than 90 percent of new cars sold last year in Norway were fully electric,” according to Kverneland.
He adds, “With trucks and the rest of the electrification we need to undertake, it’s largely a matter of political incentives and investment. The technology is already there; we just need to implement and use it, although transitioning to green energy is costly. But once the investment is made, everything will be cheaper.”
Catalysts of sustainability: Kverneland Energi’s versatile energy solutions
The Norwegian company, headquartered in Klepp, Rogaland, primarily focuses on developing technology to increase renewable energy production and decrease fossil fuel usage.
Kverneland Energi’s energy systems and products are versatile, serving various industries and adaptable to different needs.
Their primary clientele includes contractors, industries, farmers, and the public sector.
In addition to offering solutions for mobile lightning charging, the company also provides solar cells, battery systems, and management tools to plan and control energy consumption.
Here is the participation of Kverneland Energi during the International Mobility Portal Summit:
