Range Energy and ESL Power Systems are partnering to develop affordable, practical and scalable charging solutions for Range's electric trailers.
"Collaborating with ESL represents a critical step towards electric and hybrid-electric commercial fleet operations," says Jon Foster, CEO of Range Energy. "By demonstrating the real-world feasibility of affordable alternating current (AC) charging to support electric and hybrid-electric fleet operations, we are proving that practical electrification solutions exist today."
Range will work toward adding an ESL charging solution and both companies will conduct interoperability testing to ensure seamless integration and optimize charging efficiency for electrified trailers. The companies and air quality regulators will also work on projects to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of the Range system in real-world operations.
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ESL will contribute 480-volt, three-phase charging hardware for installation at fleet sites. After the demonstrations are complete, fleets will own the chargers to support their transition to electric operations.
"Fleet operators are increasingly looking for dependable and scalable charging infrastructure to support electrified operations," says Jonathan Daou, product manager at ESL. "We are fulfilling that need by providing a high-performance charging solution that enables Range's system to seamlessly integrate into fleets' daily operations. This is important to ensure that the integration of electric equipment doesn't negatively impact fleet operations, while simultaneously supporting commercial trucking's transition to electric power for a more sustainable future."
