Mobile Battery Storage Control Solution for EV Charging and Multi-Purpose Applications

ComAp collaborated with Volvo Penta and Tecnogen, a renowned gen-set packager and one of the pioneers of hybrid systems in Italy, to help deliver a mobile solution driven by Volvo Penta’s vision for flexible, multi-purpose energy storage. Although the immediate project goal was to enable high-power charging for Volvo's electric trucks, the solution was designed from the outset to support a wide range of mobile applications, including independent energy supply for construction sites, events and mining operations.

As a leader in the driving force behind this project, Volvo Penta sought to introduce a mobile storage system capable of delivering high-power charging to Volvo's trucks in a matter of minutes, even in locations without sufficient grid capacity.

In partnership with ComAp and Tecnogen, Volvo Penta initiated the development of a complete storage solution using Volvo's batteries, ecosystem and auxiliary components, with the goal of providing a system that could fully recharge Volvo's electric trucks in approximately 45 minutes — the average duration of the truck’s loading cycle. Tecnogen collaborated with ComAp to help make this solution a reality. 

Working closely with Volvo Penta and Tecnogen, ComAp was tasked with providing a control system capable of managing the battery storage and the charging of the trucks. For the control system to be successful, it needed to charge the battery storage when the trucks were not connected, and then rapidly discharge the energy from the batteries to the trucks when required. 

Following technical consulting with the partners, ComAp provided an advanced control system operating on the InteliNeo 5500 microgrid controller to seamlessly integrate Volvo’s batteries and manage the charge and discharge between the mains, batteries and electric trucks. Additionally, ComAp’s InteliSCADA software was integrated into the control system to enable overview and monitoring of the storage system.

With the new control system in place, Volvo Penta, Tecnogen and ComAp successfully delivered a mobile battery storage solution capable of fully charging Volvo's electric trucks during the loading process. Beyond this initial use case, the solution has been engineered for future versatile deployment, supporting reliable independent energy wherever it is needed in demanding operational environments.