THE BACKGROUND
Building a shared fast-charging hub for electric vehicles
KVR Energy developed a shared fast-charging hub at the BZOB industrial area in Helmond. A single electric truck can demand as much power during fast charging as dozens of households. When multiple trucks charge at the same time, peak demand on industrial sites increases rapidly. Therefore, electric freight transport requires a different approach to charging infrastructure. The site is designed to combine charging infrastructure, energy generation and energy management in one integrated system.
Van den Broek Logistics uses this location to charge its electric trucks.
THE APPROACH
All components brought into one system
To realize a public fast-charging hub that can be used by multiple companies, several components have been brought together into one system:
- fast chargers up to 360 kW
- a grid connection of over 2 megawatts
- solar generation (expanding to approximately 1,100 panels) installed by Eigen Energie
- battery storage (in development)
Tibo Energy’s Energy Management System centrally controls charging, energy flows and storage in real time. The system takes into account when trucks arrive, how much energy they need, and when they are scheduled to depart. This allows charging to be shifted to more cost-efficient moments. In practice, trucks can be charged overnight when required, or during the day when solar energy is available, depending on energy prices and generation.
“As soon as fast chargers, a public charging hub, solar energy and a battery come together, you need to keep everything under control. Like an orchestra, all components have to work together at the right moment. The energy management system takes on the role of the conductor.”
— Koen Mennen, advisor at KVR Energy
THE RESULTS
Applying shared charging on an industrial site
For logistics operators such as Van den Broek Logistics, shared charging on the industrial site enables:
- Trucks are charged upon return and ready for departure according to schedule
- Charging is aligned with actual fleet operations
- Charging is shifted to more efficient moments, helping to reduce energy costs
- Available power is distributed across multiple vehicles without overloading the grid connection
- The setup supports further electrification of the fleet over time
In addition, the integration of solar energy and future battery storage helps to better utilize available energy within the limits of the grid connection.
About Van den Broek
Van den Broek Logistics is a logistics service provider based in Helmond, the Netherlands. The company offers transport, pallet distribution, storage, order picking and refrigerated transport services. It operates a fleet of trucks and serves customers across the Netherlands and surrounding regions.
About KVR Energy
KVR Energy develops and operates charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The company focuses on building and managing charging locations, including public fast-charging hubs for trucks and other vehicles on industrial sites.
About Eigen Energie
Eigen Energie is a Dutch installation company specializing in solar energy systems and electrical installations. The company designs and installs energy solutions for commercial and industrial sites, including solar PV systems and related infrastructure.
