Volvo creates mega-battery that can charge 20 electric cars a day

The rapid development of battery technologies in the era of electric vehicles reminds many people of the explosive growth of computer processors during the 90s.

However, in parallel with this, the question arises: what to do with batteries from used or scrapped electric vehicles?

The automotive industry has been looking for solutions for years - from opening battery recycling plants to projects in which used electric vehicle batteries are reused for energy storage systems, reports Telegraph.

Such systems have so far been specialized and used almost exclusively in the automotive industry, rather than as products available to the wider market. But that is now changing.

Volvo Energy, a division within the Volvo Group (trucks, buses), has introduced a new product called the PU500 – a battery-based energy storage system (BESS).

Essentially, it's a solution that looks like a giant external battery for the iPhone, but designed to charge electric trucks and construction machinery.

The PU500 has a capacity of between 450 and 540 kWh and can operate completely independently of the power grid – for example, on remote construction sites. It can also be connected to the grid for slower charging.

It is equipped with an integrated 240 kW DC charger, meaning it can quickly charge electric vehicles or power mobile objects such as containers.

However, it is primarily designed for charging heavy construction machinery and trucks, in countries that do not have an integrated electricity infrastructure.

“The PU500 with integrated CCS2 charger is designed to work with all brands of electric vehicles, trucks and passenger cars,” said Niklas Tulin, head of BESS at Volvo Energy.

Although having such a device at home would be redundant, the PU500 would be ideal for powering an electric excavator on a construction site without a stable power connection.

In the future, such a system could also serve as emergency energy support for fleets of electric vehicles, such as those used by rescue services, so that batteries can be quickly recharged in the event of a power outage at their bases.

Volvo Energy says a PU500 can charge up to 20 electric cars per day or a heavy truck in approximately an hour and a half.

“The PU500 is a reliable, adaptable and efficient solution designed for the needs of businesses and industries that require a flexible source of energy,” said Elizabeth Larson, director of sales and services at Volvo Energy.

On construction sites, diesel generators are most commonly used for these needs, but they are not ideal for charging large trucks because they cannot produce enough energy in a short period of time.

Here BESS, with its 240 kW charger, has a key advantage.

The only condition? Many electric trucks and other construction machinery will be needed, Volvo concludes, it will take some time. /Telegraph/