Electric Truck Manufacturer Boulder Electric Vehicle Successfully Demonstrates Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)
Company Press Release
Electric Truck Manufacturer Boulder Electric Vehicle Successfully Demonstrates Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Charging Across the Nation
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boulder Electric Vehicle has successfully demonstrated their Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) all electric trucks in three separate locations including Michigan, Colorado and California. The first full powered success transpired in Royal Oak, Michigan, on June 14, 2013. With 60 kilowatts of power going in and coming out of the vehicles, Boulder EV reached a new milestone and became the 1st EV truck manufacturer in the world to successfully demonstrate V2G bi-directional charging. "This first success happened in the labs of our EVSE partner Coritech Services. When we finally saw the power going in and coming out at the maximum allowable amounts as per the J1772 DC Combo connector spec, we were all as giddy as school kids," said Boulder EV CEO Carter Brown.
The second major milestone came on July 25, 2013, in Ft. Carson, Colorado. It was here that the US Army Corp of Engineers and the SPIDERS project signed off on verifying full charge and discharge of the vehicle at 60 kilowatts of power. "It is amazing that one of our chargers can fully charge a Boulder Electric Vehicle delivery truck in just over an hour," stated Coritech Services CEO Russ Ristau.
The third demonstration took place at Boulder Electric Vehicle's Los Angeles plant on August 13, 2013. The California Energy Commission awarded Boulder Electric Vehicle a $3 million grant from its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to support the opening of BEV's second plant, located in Los Angeles, CA. The Energy Commission's grant manager toured the facility for a final inspection prior to production starting in January 2014.
Boulder Electric Vehicle's first V2G demonstrations outside the Coritech lab and the Department of Defense are happening in Los Angeles. Boulder EV purchased a bi-directional DC charger from Coritech Services that will be solely used in their Los Angeles plant. "We are greatly appreciative of all the help the City of Los Angeles and the State of California have given us," explained Brown. Furthermore, Boulder EV has also extended an offer to provide on-site demonstrations of their vehicles performing real V2G bi-directional charging.
As of today Boulder Electric Vehicle is the only electric truck manufacturer in the world to demonstrate working vehicle-to-grid charging at 60 kilowatts of power outside of the SPIDERS project in Fort Carson, Colorado. Boulder EV and Coritech Services will be providing demonstration units comprised of a charger and a truck to private utility companies beginning fall of this year. Boulder EV will also be showcasing a V2G capable truck, alongside a Coritech DC quick charger, at the Plug-In 2013 Conference & Exposition in San Diego, CA. The conference kicks off September 30th and runs through October 3rd. For those interested in scheduling a demonstration of Boulder EV's trucks performing V2G charging with a Coritech EVSE please contact them directly to set up reservations.
About Boulder Electric Vehicle Boulder Electric Vehicle is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of viable medium and heavy duty electric trucks and vans. Currently manufacturing two models, the 500 Series and 1000 Series, these class 4 and class 5 vehicles have been successfully deployed with numerous fleets, all of whom are now realizing the economic and environmental benefits of going green with Boulder Electric Vehicle.
About Coritech Services Inc Coritech Services has been providing integration solutions for over a decade. Our manufacturing and industrial plant integration experience, combined with our group of highly skilled professionals, position Coritech Services as an industry leader in system integration. We provide a complete turnkey project with all departments in-house, allowing us to maintain exceptional quality from start to finish.
News Source: Boulder Electric Vehicle
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http://www.boulderev.com/There will be on-site demonstrations revealing their turnkey solution to V2G charging utilizing Boulder EV’s 100% Electric Flatbed Utility Truck equipped with a Lithium 72 kWh battery pack and a Coritech 60kW DC Fast Charger System. Current demonstrations are seeing charger rates of 150 amps during charge or discharge on the 360V nominal battery pack.
http://www.boulderev.com/ACT%20V2G%20Press%20Release.pdf
http://www.boulderev.com/DV500.pdf
Now, 100 miles sounds like a lot, but for a delivery van/truck even in an urban area that is limited. Even with the "Fast Charger" it takes an hour to charge the vehicle (Eight hours with the charge that comes with the vehicle today.
If I wanted a pickup and planned never to go more then 80 miles on any one day, it would be tempting. My problem is 80 miles is NOT that far if you plan to use this vehicle for deliveries. Most companies will avoid it for they use their trucks much more then 80 miles a day (and often in heavy traffic which reduces range, through this being electric the effect will be less given that the power source would NOT have to be on when you crawling along in traffic).
On the other hand, it would be a good vehicle for quick pickup from other businesses that are within the same county. Go to the other business and come back. Recharge when the vehicle is returned (Even with the eight hour charger, charging the battery just for a few hours between trips would extend the range fo the Vehicle).
Possible users:
1. Letter Carriers to go to and from their routes, but once at their route left alone till the carrier needs to move it. This would replace the various cars the Post Office uses at the present time. On the other hand I do NOT see it being used to pick up mail. That stop and go traffic tends to use up a lot of power (Through again electric drive would be able to handle this then conventional diesel trucks do), and most such drivers put in a LOT of miles before they can return to their office to charge this vehicle up again.
2. Small stores owners picking up items they need. Example a Auto Mechanic using the vehicle to pick up a part he needs to install in a vehicle he is working on, but has to pick up the parts elsewhere. Happens more often then you think. On the other hand if the part is a good distance away (i.e. more the 50 miles, round trip 100 miles) a conventional vehicle would be better. Furthermore a 2 ton limited is more then sufficient for the type of jobs I envision for this vehicle, the operator will have to accept that when he maxes out the 2 ton limit, the range of the Vehicle will go down RAPIDLY. You may use 20 miles of range to get to the site to pick up what you need, but when the parts are loaded it may take all OR more of the electrical power left to get the Vehicle home. Again limits range, roughly to within a county (Countries east of Colorado tend to be about 20 miles across and north and south, Colorado and west the counties are larger, I am using EASTERN Countries for this comment) and then no more then one to two trips a day.
3. School buses. Given that most School buses are used four to six times a day, but on short trips with a 4 to 6 hour lay over, electric drive might be ideal for them. Most urban and suburban schools districts are NOT that large, pick up the students (High School, then Middle School, the Elementary School), three trips no more then 10 miles each, then a 4-6 hour layover (to recharge the battery some) then another 30 miles of travel (10 miles each), would be an idea use of electric drives with a limited range of 80 miles. Electric Vehicles last 20-40 years, so once purchased they can last almost forever (Most buses need to be replaced do to engine, transmission and drive train problems after about 15 years of use, through that 15 years is from regular buses NOT school buses that are clearly design to take less abuse). The Fast Charger would help these school the most, the buses would be fully charge between the morning and afternoon transportation of students.
The down side is most Schools now contract out School bus Service and would a contractor want to take on the extra cost of electric drive without a 20 year contract? I doubt it, thus most Schools will either have to sign up contractors for 20 or more years OR re take over providing the service themselves.
Just a comment that this is a very small niche vehicle. In many circumstances worth it. but I seriously doubt it will have more the a marginal effect on total trucks sales, even in the next 20 years (and that is assuming the price of Gasoline and Diesel go to $10 a gallon). It can NOT be the general truck most users of this size truck has been using since the 1930s. It does NOT have the range, without recharging, such people expect and count on (Even if rarely used). Even with the one hour recharge, that is almost an hour longer then such users are use to i.e. one charging as oppose to pulling up to a Gasoline Station and putting in 20 gallons of fuel.
Now, Federal Express is experimenting with them, but it is unclear how (it is clear it is a national test but not HOW they will be used. Federal Express does compete with UPS and the Postal Service, but it also lets a lot of its "Regular packages" be delivered by the Postal Service. Thus these trucks may be to and from close locations.
http://www.fleetsandfuels.com/fuels/evs/2012/06/fedex-express-commits-to-more-evs/
I mention Federal Express for they purchased several electric vehicles form different makers, including AMP Electric, Freightliner electric, and Boulder Electric Vehicles.
Please note, Federal Express tend to "lease" out their truck routes to their drivers. The Drivers are NOT employees but sub-contractors (unlike UPS and the Postal Service where the drivers are employees). This further complicates what ever Federal Express is doing (The Postal Services also contracts out some of its trucking, for example most mail is ship on the highways by such sub-contractors, but those sub-contractors supply their own trucks, unlike Federal Express who supply the trucks).
Berks County Pennsylvanian has adopted an all electric para transit vehicle (This is an AMP Electric powered Vehicle, through it is on a Ford Body and Chassis):
http://ampelectricvehicles.com/newsroom/first-u-s-electric-paratransit-vehicle-deployed-to-pa-fleet
It was produced by AMP Electric, who also uses it same frame and bodies for Gasoline, Natural Gas and propane Vehicles:
http://ampelectricvehicles.com/category/newsroom
There even have a re-engine program to replace Diesel enegines with Electric driver systems:
http://ampelectricvehicles.com/repower-program
Drawing of AMP Electric Engine that fits into a Diesel:
Federal Express has also purchased Electric Trucks from Freightliner:
http://freightlinerchassis.com/Walk-In-Van-Chassis/all-electric-chassis/menu-id-209.html
http://freightlinerchassis.com/documents/All%20Electric%20NG%20Delivery%20Van%2002-24-11-20110228124507000000.pdf
Freightliner also makes School buses.
Boulder Electric Vehicles:
It helps SOME, but not that much (Keeping tires inflated probably does more good from a total energy point of view). Every time I looked into it, it is worth installing for the installation costs are small, but you are also getting a small improvement (and at times the cost of the installation cost more then the energy "Saved"
.
As to the fast charger, in the case of trucks they are less problems for most trucks are tied in with commercial establishments and thus have access to lines that can handle the increase power drain. I have my doubts if most neighborhoods can take such power drains if the neighborhood is just housing (as oppose to have some industry or other heavy user of power). Thus of greater use.
Now, I suspect you made you comments AFTER I made my last set of changes and made comments as to School Buses. In many ways they are the ideal vehicle for this type of heavy duty electric "truck" transportation. Most school buses are used for about 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the Afternoon (Most are used less). Given their stop and go schedule the electric battery system ability to minimize loss do to such stop and go traffic will permit them to do 30 miles in the morning, then 30 miles in the Afternoon, with a goof 3-4 hours to recharge (and in a school system the high speed re-charger could be worth the money to install in mass for all the buses used by the School).
Transforming School Buses to Electric Drive should be a priority. Now in more rural areas I expect diesel buses to hold on longer (but depends on the service, most rural school bus routes tend to be less then 10 miles, if three trips are made (high school, middle school and Elementary school) then 30 miles in the morning, a quick re charge then 30 miles in the afternoon.
In many ways it is the ideal market. You have the volume (a lot of buses) a limited time of the road (morning then afternoon) and a time period in between to re-charge the vehicles. School buses are a niche electric trucks could fit today with just funding to buy the vehicle and the charging system. If a better charging system is designed next year, who cares, the School buses are assigned to one School District and thus it is a "closed" System i.e. if a different system of charging is adopted next year, the school that adopted this year charging system and continue to use it for the next 20 years without having to worry about converting. When these electric buses get to old in 20-30 years then the School System can replace them all with whatever is the standard electrical re-charging system at that time period.
You can have a similar close system for small business, most are so cash short that any conversion is slow, thus they fear that they may be caught with several different "Standards" as one replaces the next till one is finally defaulted to be the standard for any improvements over it are very marginal. As to In fast chargers we do NOT appear to be anywhere near a standard at the present time so many business are reluctant to embrace electric trucks for fears they will be stuck an obsolete standard and when they buy additional vehicles they will have to buy whatever is standard when they buy that new vehicle (And get stuck with several Vehicles none of which can use the same charger).
Sorry, School buses call out to be made electric for School Districts can replace all of their buses in one batch (or 2-3 batches and demand that the same charger be used, given the size of the order they can made that demand). It would be a good first step in going to electric transportation system and one Congress should encourage (by providing money for such programs).