TUAL reveals swappable powerbank for electric HGVs
Electric commercial vehicle specialist TUAL has revealed a new swappable powerbank for electric HGVs that it says can get a truck back on the road in less than five minutes.
The modular powerbank offers between 120kWh and 180kWh of capacity, adding up to 120 miles to an eHGV’s stem mileage, according to the Glasgow-based firm.
Designed to offer quick-swap capacity for trucks in the 16- to 44-tonne range, TUAL says the powerbank technology can be scaled to serve the smaller eLCV class as well and can be configured to meet the different demands of different users.
The firm says the logistics world is at a crossroads on the shift away from fossil fuels but claims the transition is being hindered, noting: “Current public charging infrastructure is not only inaccessible and underpowered for heavy-duty vehicles but would also contribute to significant operational downtime – impacting productivity, profitability, and vehicle viability.”
It says its new package offers a quick and convenient solution that will help bridge the gap and reduce vehicle downtime until the charging infrastructure catches up, with a powerbank swap taking less than five minutes.
Philip Clarke, CEO and founder of TUAL, commented: “The transition to electric heavy goods vehicles is essential for achieving our environmental targets, but they are handicapped by limited range. This impacts the use-cases and routes they can operate on, as the current charging infrastructure is simply not scaled for heavy goods vehicles.
“Our swappable powerbanks are designed to bridge this gap, providing a reliable and flexible solution that keeps eHGV fleets on the move. This technology is ready for deployment now, offering a viable alternative to the long-mooted and long-delayed public megawatt charging network.”
Work has begun on the UK’s first dedicated megawatt hub and there are plans for other large-scale charging destinations but the current provision of the super-high-power devices needed to rapid charge trucks’ massive batteries, is relatively low.
