EV charging infrastructure is only as good
as the technology it's based on — all the way down to the component
and device level, which is where RS shines.
FORT
WORTH, Texas, Feb. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RS, a trading brand of RS Group
plc (LSE: RS1), a global provider of product and service solutions
for industrial customers, offers an extensive portfolio of
electrical and electronic component and device solutions engineered
to satisfy the unique demands of EV charging infrastructure and
encourage increased commercial and consumer adoption.
RS offers an extensive range of products
essential to the continued evolution of commercial EV charging
infrastructure.
Despite a recent slew of negative headlines, EVs are steadily
claiming a larger share of the consumer market as falling prices
combine with financial and environmental benefits, and commercial
fleet operators are starting to follow suit. Gas-powered medium-
and heavy-duty (MD/HD) commercial vehicles, like transit buses and
delivery trucks, have a significantly higher environmental impact
than light-duty commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles —
accounting for 26% of national fuel consumption despite making up
just 4% of the total vehicle population. So, transitioning them to
electric power is a high priority in terms of reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, combating climate change, and even creating
healthier communities since tailpipe pollution is linked to asthma,
lung cancer, and heart disease.
Switching commercial fleets from gas-powered to electric
technology also has significant cost benefits over the life of the
vehicles, which makes EVs even more attractive for fleet owners and
operators. AAA estimates that it costs more than twice as much to
fuel a gas-powered vehicle, but the savings that EVs offer extend
far beyond fuel costs. EVs have a simpler design and fewer moving
parts than vehicles with internal combustion engines. For example,
they don't have transmissions, spark plugs, or fuel pumps, and they
never require oil changes or air filter replacements. So, switching
MD/HD commercial fleets to EVs can save operators approximately
$950 in annual maintenance costs per
vehicle.
Plus, since many of the vehicles in MD/HD commercial fleets
travel predicable routes at predictable times and roughly
90% of them travel less than 250 miles per job, it's
relatively easy for fleet operators to identify which type of
battery and charging infrastructure they need and to schedule
recharging during planned downtime.
So, why aren't more commercial fleets already making the switch?
The primary obstacle to switching MD/HD commercial fleets to EVs is
the same one preventing EVs from reaching critical mass in the
passenger vehicle market: an insufficient patchwork network of
commercial EV charging infrastructure. Thankfully, U.S. government
investments and initiatives, including a commitment to 100%
zero-emissions MD/HD truck sales by 2040, combined with innovation
throughout the supply chain, ranging from component and device
manufacturers to EV charging station OEMs, is establishing the
foundation for a robust, nationwide network of fast, efficient, and
cost-effective commercial EV charging infrastructure.
EV charging infrastructure is only as good as the technology
it's based on — all the way down to the component and device level
— and the RS portfolio of alternative energy
solutions includes an extensive range of electrical and
electronic products essential to the continued evolution of
commercial EV charging infrastructure, including contactors,
industrial transformers, DC power modules, EV charging control
boards, EV charging station test adapters, and HMIs from many of
the industry's most trusted suppliers.
Contactors are essential for switching circuits on and off
in high-current, high-voltage applications like battery charging
power management systems. Sensata Gigavac Clean Energy GX Series
contactors, which are engineered to switch loads up to 800VDC, are
especially well-suited for EV infrastructure, offering high
reliability, durability, and mounting versatility, as well as
rugged resistance to a range of extreme environmental conditions,
including submersion and operating temperatures extending from
-55°C to +85°C.
Industrial transformers are used to minimize power losses,
safely increase or decrease voltages prior to distribution, and
provide isolation between two parts of a circuit, and in EV
charging infrastructure, they're essential for monitoring and
controlling the voltage flowing from the power source to the
battery and enabling the simultaneous charging of multiple
vehicles. Hammond Power Solutions Sentinel Series industrial
transformers are especially well-suited for use in this market
because they're engineered for energy efficiency, designed to help
combat climate change, and compliant with the latest energy
standards set by the Department of Energy, which reduces the total
cost of ownership over the product lifetime compared to competing
solutions. They're also suitable for both indoor and outdoor
applications and provide high-reliability protection against
hazards like voltage spikes.
DC power modules are essential for Level 3 DC EV
infrastructure, which allows DC power to flow directly from the
station into an EV battery and can fully charge a light-duty EV
from empty in just 20–60 minutes compared to 4–10 hours for a Level
2 AC charger or 40–50 hours for a Level 1 AC charger. Phoenix
Contact CHARX DC power modules are modular, scalable, easy to
install, and compatible with standard 19-inch cabinets and provide
up to 360kW of power to enable fast and efficient EV charging.
EV charging control boards manage all the complex processes
involving power conversion and communications between EVs and
charging stations, including regulating the flow of power, ensuring
safe, efficient, and reliable operation, and providing vital
information to both vehicles and users. The EV-PLCC-AC1-DC1 DC
charging controller from Phoenix Contact features a powerful
processor capable of executing complex communication, real-time
monitoring, and enhanced efficiency tasks quickly and seamlessly
and also offers various connectivity options, a secure and reliable
operating system, and diverse communication protocols for broad
compatibility.
EV charging station test adapters like Fluke FEV100 EV Charging
Station Test Adapter Kits are used to execute ground fault,
wire insulation, voltage measurement, and duty cycle tests and
reveal the maximum current available for charging by imitating an
EV.
HMIs feature intuitive displays that allow operators to
control machinery, translate intricate data into actionable
information, and leverage historical data to anticipate future
needs and improve quality. In EV charging infrastructure, they're
used to simplify the charging process, improve safety, and enhance
the user experience. Beijer Electronics X2 Series HMIs are
especially well suited for EV charging applications due to their
robust die-cast aluminum form factors designed to withstand
mechanical stresses and extreme temperatures. They also have
powerful ARM processors and an extensive slate of environmental
protection ratings and quality and safety certifications.
For more information about RS solutions for EV charging
infrastructure and related application areas, visit our alternative
energy page and the links embedded here, and check out our
collection of expert insights into and advice about the industry,
including the new "Fueling the Future of Commercial EV Charging
Infrastructure" article by Miguel
Gudino, an Associate Application Engineer at RS. For
assistance identifying, procuring, deploying, and maintaining
products that can help improve the speed, safety, and efficiency of
your commercial EV charging infrastructure, please contact your
local RS representative at 1.866.433.5722 or reach out to our
technical product support team.
About RS in the Americas
In the Americas region,
RS stocks more than 250,000 industrial and electronic products from
more than 700 trusted suppliers. These solutions cover categories
extending from automation and control equipment to interconnect,
passive, active, and electromechanical components and include more
than 80,000 high-quality, competitively priced RS
PRO products. For more information, please visit
https://us.rs-online.com or connect with us via social media
on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About RS Group
RS Group plc provides product and
service solutions that help our customers design, build, maintain,
repair, and operate industrial equipment and operations, safely and
sustainably. We stock more than 750,000 industrial and electronic
products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a
wide range of product and service solutions to 1.1 million
customers.
We support customers across the product lifecycle, whether via
innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving
time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing
purchasing costs and optimizing inventory in the maintenance,
repair, and operation phase. We offer our customers tailored
product and service propositions that are essential for the
successful operation of their businesses and help them save time
and money.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock
ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March
2023 reported revenue of £2,982 million.
For more information, please visit
https://www.rsgroup.com/ or connect with us on
LinkedIn or Twitter.
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Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:
Erica Goode, RS Director of Marketing – U.S. and
Canada
Erica.Goode@na.rsgroup.com
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SOURCE RS