Electromobility: Logistics fleet goes electric TU Braunschweig starts field test with tech start-up Fairsenden

Charging without cables is convenient, and not just for smartphones. The principle could also be used efficiently for electric vehicles, and noticeably so for the operation of entire vehicle fleets. To this end, Technische Universität Braunschweig is developing charging concepts for electric vehicles in the logistics sector as well as an inductive charging system in cooperation with INTIS GmbH. Real charging data from a logistics fleet serve as the basis for the charging concepts. In this context, a fleet test is currently underway – with conductive, i.e. wired, charging infrastructure at the Berlin IT and logistics company Fairsenden GmbH, which was founded in 2019.

In the lead-up to the field test, wallboxes from the manufacturer Pion AG were installed at Fairsenden. These establish the connection to a backend, a central charging management system for charging points. This backend can be used, for example, to remotely control the charging points and record charging data. Existing charging points from Fairsenden can also be integrated into the backend. In addition, power measuring devices have been integrated at the grid connection of the charging infrastructure. This infrastructure is used to record the charging behaviour of Fairsenden’s logistics fleet during real operation.

Recording the power grid status

In addition to the data on charging behaviour, the researchers are pursuing another goal during the field test: they want to find out how the use of electric vehicle fleets in the logistics sector affects the power grid. The installed power measuring devices, which measure and record various grid quality data in addition to the charging data, serve this purpose.

Results flow into further development

The measurement data from the field test will be evaluated and will flow into the development of the new charging concepts. The identified charging behaviour can be used for the creation of charging plans to charge the fleet with renewable energies. Data on the status of the power grid can be used for charging concepts for grid-oriented charging. This means that the fleet is charged with the aim of minimising the impact on the power grid.

The charging concepts will be tested in a further field test together with the inductive charging system in the fleet operation at Fairsenden as part of the project.

Project data:

The German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) is funding the LISA4CL project for three years with around 1.6 million euros until March 2024. As project coordinator, TU Braunschweig will receive over 1.3 million euros, divided between the elenia Institute for High Voltage Technology and Power Systems and the Institute for Electrical Machines, Tractions and Drives (IMAB). In addition to the project partner INTIS GmbH, Fairsenden, the Berlin Agency for Electromobility eMO, and VW Commercial Vehicles are associated partners. The implementation of the funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH (National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology). Project Management Jülich is acting as project management agency within the framework of this project.