Proviridis pioneers underground truck charging infrastructure using Kempower solution

• Patented underground installation of Kempower truck charging solution resolves key challenge for truck fleet electrification
• The charger configuration can prevent the loss of up to 20% of spaces at logistics hubs and truck charging locations
• As the innovation is developed, it’s expected to scale across France and internationally
• The customizable truck charging solution is now being developed on a bespoke basis for early adopter customers

ROUSSET, 20th November 2024 - A new innovation in the installation of truck charging which will support electrification of the logistics industry has been developed by French clean energy infrastructure specialist Proviridis. 

Proviridis, a Kempower business partner in France, has designed a unique underground solution to the configuration of Finnish DC fast-charging manufacturer Kempower’s equipment which eliminates the need to reserve on-ground space for charging hardware. This allows existing parking space at depots to be retained, resolving a key issue faced by fleet and truck charging operators electrifying their sites. The innovation was developed during an installation project at Proviridis’ multi-energy truck station in Saint Quentin Fallavier in France.

With space being a key challenge for the logistics market, Proviridis trialed an underground setup of Kempower’s Control Unit solution, which is connected to and receives its power from a nearby 600kW Kempower Power Unit installed above ground. The successful trial is the first example of an underground solution being used to overcome the obstacle of space limitation at truck charging locations and offers a cheaper alternative to procuring and installing the overhead gantry solution currently used at many logistics depots.

The underground positioning of the hardware offers the additional advantage of protection from damage, and the distributed design of the truck charging infrastructure allows the dynamic allocation of available power from the Power Unit to up to 8 chargers. The technology is compatible with both the overground Kempower Satellite Charger and the dock-based Control Unit, meaning the charger configuration can be designed flexibly to suit the varying layouts and specific needs of different sites.  Bespoke configurations are already being developed for early-adopting customers based on the pilot implementation of the solution. 

The adaptability of the charging infrastructure means that it could also become a solution for e-bus depots, which have the same space constraints to consider when installing charging solutions. 

The technology can deliver up to 240kW of power to a single truck, meaning it can recharge from 0% to 100% within as little as an hour in the most optimal charging conditions. 

While traditional charging equipment can cause up to 20% of existing truck parking capacity to be lost, Kempower has already gained recognition for the efficient size footprint of its overground Satellites. The newly patented solution by Proviridis for installing Kempower’s Control Unit has the potential to even further increase return on investment and consistency of profitability forecasts by ensuring vehicles don’t need to be sacrificed due to a lack of space. 

The innovation is currently being piloted at Proviridis’ Saint Quentin Fallavier V-GAS station, which specializes in low-carbon transport fuels including BioNGV and hydrogen alongside EV charging. During the next phase of plans, Proviridis will roll out the solution across France, exclusively using Kempower’s fast-charging equipment. 

Cédric Moret, Kempower’s Head of Sales for the French market, said: “Many fleet operators are committed to more sustainable operations, but they require solutions that maintain the capacity and normal functioning of their locations in order to protect their business. It has unfortunately become commonplace for some loss of parking space to become normalized when installing charging infrastructure, which is why we are so excited by the new possibilities created with Proviridis’ underground solution.” 

Olivier Verdu, Technical Director at Proviridis, added: “We have a long history of investing in innovations at our multi-energy stations and are proud to have pioneered this new solution using Kempower technology. Robustness and flexibility are two essential elements for trucking equipment and the Kempower Control Unit proved to be uniquely positioned to withstand the necessary conditions for the underground solution to work. The product is durable across a wide spectrum of temperatures and conditions, requires minimal ventilation, and can cater for a wide range of customer needs. These are features which perfectly place the Kempower solution for this type of charging configuration in a logistics environment.” 

Kempower Media:
Paula Savonen, VP, Communications 
paula.savonen@kempower.com 
+358 400 343 851  
 

Kempower in brief
We design and manufacture reliable and user-friendly DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles. Our vision is to create the world’s most desired EV charging solutions for everyone, everywhere. Our product development and production are based in Finland and in the U.S. with the majority of our materials and components sourced locally. We focus on all areas of e-mobility, from electric cars, trucks, and buses to machines and marine. Our modular and scalable charging system and world-class software are designed by EV drivers for EV drivers, enabling the best user experience for our customers around the world. Kempower is listed on the Main Market of Nasdaq Helsinki.  

www.kempower.com  
 

Proviridis in brief
Created in 2012, PROVIRIDIS, a French medium enterprise, is exclusively involved in decarbonization infrastructures for heavy-duty transport. The company was the first to develop and operate multi-energy stations, providing BioGNV and DC chargers to its clients. For the last few years, the focus of the company has been dedicated to fast-charging public and private infrastructures for freight transport, with stations located on various sites (Z-E-N public stations, clients depots).  

Proviridis is truly convinced and determined to act for the full transition to ZE-MHDVs, having active relationships with the whole ecosystem (professional federations, manufactures, public authorities…) and being recognized by its clients. Finally, to strengthen its attraction, the company is now licensed to supply electricity in France, through the ENRV brand: along with implementing DC chargers, the company is now able to give its clients direct access to the energy market, allowing them to optimize their energy purchasing strategy and exploit the potential of their charging stations and associated data. 

www.proviridis.fr