Charging infrastructure, considered the Achilles heel for electromobility massification on a global scale, is one of the focuses on which technology companies like Siemens are working, which, in addition to offering innovative electronic devices, have included other areas of their business model, such as vehicle electrification and energy supply centers.
According to estimates published by Siemens, only in the United States, electric cars will increase to approximately 20 million on the roads by 2030. Against this backdrop, the company is helping utilities, cooperatives and municipalities to maintain grid stability with the implementation of smart chargers and managed demand charging.
On this occasion, the tech giant unveiled VersiCharge, a concept for an EV charging structure designed for fleets and high-demand applications. The idea is to electrify new or existing parking lots and building structures quickly and efficiently by using a modular and scalable design.
The new delivery system hosts all the necessary components of the electrical infrastructure in an above-ground, enclosed system. It is designed to be added to existing parking lots with minimal installation work.
Features
VersiCharge XL uses proven power distribution technologies deployed at indoor locations, such as data centers and industrial facilities, and elevates them above ground in a weatherproof outdoor enclosure. It can be used with Level 2 or DC fast chargers in outdoor environments.
The vertical structure that supports the Siemens Sentron Busway systems that connect to power the chargers is made of a building material called Nexiite, which according to manufacturer Nexii Building Solutions, has properties comparable to concrete, but contains significantly less carbon.
For John DeBoer, Head of Siemens eMobility in North America, with the ever-increasing demand for electric vehicle infrastructure, they recognize the real need there is for fast, scalable, easy-to-maintain and reliable deployment.
Stephen Sidwell, Co-Founder and CEO of Nexii, noted that “construction and transportation are two of the largest sources of carbon emissions driving climate change today.”
He believes the partnership between Siemens and Nexii demonstrates the strength and solutions development for some of the world’s biggest problems.
