UPS: Smart Charging Urban Logistics
Objective
- Add 20 EVs to a fleet of over 70 vehicles, and increase facility electrical capacity using innovative smart-charging technologies in the UK.
Approach
- Financing
- Acquired government funds via innovation trial competition
- Vehicle conversion
- Existing diesel-powered vehicles were retrofitted by specialist supplier
- Utility help
- Designed and provided a smart-charging system leveraging an energy storage system
- Looking to the future
- Tracking to gauge potential of electrifying entire central London fleet, and replicate elsewhere
Challenges
- Vehicle energy requirements exceeded facility capacity
- Utility tools for analyzing spare capacity were not yet developed
- Grid infrastructure built with a ‘fit-and-forget’ mentality – requiring novel software systems and algorithms for load management
Key lessons and tips
- Engage with utilities early
- Smart-charging can reduce capital and operating expenses for EV transition
- Future revenue may be accrued by leveraging the vehicle charge to help the grid system operator balance system load with demand
- Fail-safe mechanisms are critical maintaining business continuity
Outcomes
- Upgraded facility capacity allows UPS to electrify entire central London fleet (170 vehicles)
- Project demonstrated that EVs are optimal, not just suitable
