The automotive industry is flipping the switch. Growing numbers of manufacturers are scheduling the phase-out of combustion engine technology. However, there are still a few obstacles on the road to electric mobility, such as the need for fast charging. Commeo, Schulz Systemtechnik and Rittal are showing how battery storage technology makes this possible.
Typical wall boxes can only charge electric vehicles in the garage at home with a maximum output of 11 kW. This can function satisfactorily for a single electric vehicle sitting all night in the family garage. This can function satisfactorily for a single electric vehicle sitting all night in the family garage. However, the power will not usually be enough if several vehicles must be charged simultaneously in a larger residential complex. In particular, fast charging is not possible on conventional mains connections. Expanding the electrical distribution grids is expensive and takes a long time. Battery storage systems – installed in combination with charging stations – are one solution to this dilemma.
The combination of Commeo’s energy storage systems with Rittal’s technology and outdoor enclosures makes an optimal and, above all, secure charging infrastructure possible.
The battery storage systems can store energy from the grid temporarily and speed up the charging process significantly. When no electric vehicle is at the charging station, the batteries store electrical energy from the grid. If a vehicle needs to be charged quickly, this can also be performed with a high power level thanks to the battery storage system’s boost function. Using this principle at its headquarters in Wallenhorst, Schulz Systemtechnik GmbH has implemented a charging station with a charging capacity of 150 kW.
BATTERY STORAGE AS A SOLUTION
The project was realised in collaboration with Commeo and Rittal:Commeo GmbH supplied the battery storage, while Rittal provided the outdoor enclosures needed for protection against external influences and the system technology.
Rittal’s VX25 frame system serves as the mechanical basis for the battery storage systems. With a load capacity of 1,500 N, the frames are very stable. A total of 45 battery blocks, each with 1.5 kWh, are compactly housed in a rack inside the battery storage enclosure less than 70 cm wide. The remaining space is available for the Commeo control technology, climate control, and other built-in components.
The Rittal modular system includes all the components needed for this, from the enclosure lighting to the climate control system and the temperature and humidity monitoring features. Furthermore, when engineering the system, Schulz Systemtechnik benefited from another advantage: The Eplan Data Portal contains all the data relevant for electrical and structural planning, not only for the components of the modular Rittal system but also for the Commeo battery blocks.
This data simplifies the electrical planning in the Eplan Electric P8 and the 3D construction planning in the Eplan Pro Panel, which creates a digital twin of the system. Commeo also supplies the energy management system for the charging station, which monitors and controls all the components: from the power supply from the grid to the battery storage and the existing charging technology, including the payment system. The monitoring of the enclosure and the regulation of the climate control system are also connected.