Zenobē’s new Innovation Centre in Portsmouth, UK, aims to help fleet operators hoping to make the transition to electric vehicles.
The company will use an array of testing equipment to evaluate which charging system might be best for a particular fleet operator in terms of cost and charger type. The facility can simulate a depot where multiple buses or electric cars are being charged at the same time using a Powerskid, a 100kW battery storage asset manufactured from refurbished EV batteries.
The clean and portable Powerskid is a temporary power source that will enable Zenobē to assess how technologies – including V2G charging and grid enhancement services – can be used to support the additional power required for EV charging. The team will also investigate how this can be scaled up and implemented for different fleet operators.
Trials of different models of chargers and EVs will also be conducted at the Innovation Centre to provide insight into the relationship between charger and vehicle. Zenobē has also integrated its fleet charging software into the testing; this takes into account real-world scenarios such as grid limitations and battery degradation and works out how these can be managed correctly.
By investigating and testing the software and charging infrastructure, Zenobē will expand its fleet electrification capabilities and knowledge base. This knowledge will then be used to help fleet operators make more informed decisions when tendering for EVs, chargers and supporting infrastructure.
“The Innovation Centre is an evolution of our service offering and will ensure we give even better service to our customers in two ways – by testing components, chargers and other equipment continuously and by enabling us to commission and integrate equipment before anything arrives on-site, ensuring a smooth customer experience during this important but sometimes overwhelming transition to zero-emission fleets,” said Steven Meersman, founder and director of Zenobē.
“Zenobē’s new Innovation Centre facility and its commitment to continuously testing and researching new technology that supports the sustainable transition of the UK’s bus, truck and van fleets to electric will ensure that we meet our ambitious commitment to our net zero goals,” commented Penny Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth North.