Skidded EV Charging Solutions

We have all heard a lot about electric vehicles (EVs) in the past few years. It makes sense with all the benefits that they offer: elimination of emissions, lower operational costs than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, not to mention the government incentives that can help pay for the vehicle. Some utilities even have special rates for charging your vehicle during off-peak hours to help minimize the charging costs.

Even with all these benefits, in most regions, ICE vehicles greatly outnumber EVs on the road. In general, the driving factors that are making consumers hold off on purchasing an EV of their own are the higher purchase price, the limited public charging infrastructure and range anxiety, or the fear that an EV battery will run out of power before reaching a charging station.

Range Anxiety

There are several factors that contribute to range anxiety, including the overall range capability of the vehicle itself, which is dependent on the efficiency of the vehicle, ambient conditions and the battery technology used. Fortunately, range capability has been steadily increasing over the years.

Another factor affecting range anxiety is the volume and location of on-the-go EV charging infrastructure. To increase the adoption of EVs, charging infrastructure must be built up to charge vehicles efficiently and in locations that are convenient for EV drivers.

The benefits of electrification are not just for passenger vehicles, but for fleet vehicles as well. We are sharing the road with more and more electric delivery vehicles every day. Many organizations have announced green initiatives, which are pledges to lower their carbon footprint. For any company with a vehicle fleet, fossil fuel consumption is a measurable contributor to their overall carbon emission footprint. To address this, many are considering plans to transition their fleets from traditional ICE vehicles to electric vehicles to help reduce their carbon emissions. Many of these fleet vehicles have consistent schedules with routes covering the same distances each day. This consistency allows the operators to be able to predict and allow for charging time to prepare their vehicle for the next route. This helps to eliminate range anxiety for EV fleet owners and drivers.

According to the Global Passenger EV Charging Infrastructure Forecast from Wood Mackenzie, the number of direct current fast charging (DCFC) ports installed for passenger vehicle use in the United States will increase more than 250% between now and the end of 2027, with a total of nearly 180,000 additional charging ports installed over that period. Additionally, Wood Mackenzie’s Global Commercial EV Charging Infrastructure Forecast estimates that charging ports for commercial use are projected to increase even more, with close to 215,000 additional charging ports over the same period.

eSkid™ Charging Solutions

To help meet the charging infrastructure demand necessary to support the continued adoption of EV vehicles, FTI has designed multiple skidded EV charging solutions. Skidded solutions enable quick, seamless installation of chargers.

These rapidly deployable charging stations are designed to drop in place, allowing businesses to offer charging within days of installation. They have configurable plates to accommodate different chargers and charger orientation, providing flexible options for commercial vehicle fleets and businesses.

Decreased Installation Time with Less Site Disruption

Unlike a site-built solution, which requires underground conduit and wires to be buried during installation, the amount of time required onsite for skid-built charging is about a week. This is especially important for locations with limited space, where site disruptions can prevent day-to-day operations or inconvenience customers. An EV charging skid can be placed directly in a parking lot or landscaped area, with site prep limited to grading and a gravel base if necessary. This work can be completed before a new electrical service or transformer is installed.

Once the transformer is in place, conduit is run from the transformer to the location where the skid is located. The EV skid is delivered to the site on a flatbed truck and dropped in place using a lull, forklift or an overhead crane. Wires are pulled from the transformer to the distribution panel, and then on-site commissioning for the chargers is completed.

Increased Quality and Efficient Use of Skilled Labor

Currently there is a high demand for electrical work and a constrained supply of skilled electricians to complete it. FTI is responding by offering products that are built as part of a controlled process which optimizes the use of our manufacturing and construction teams to ensure that your project will be completed within your required timeline. The manufacturing environment utilizes processes that are repeatable and performed consistently in controlled ambient conditions, following a standard work procedure by trained manufacturing personnel. This results in increased quality for the final product delivered to the site.

Consistent Design

When installing a skidded solution, only one power connection needs to be sized to provide utility power to the skid. The rest of the electrical connections are contained within the skidded product, eliminating the need for them to be completed on site. This is especially important for fleet customers that are looking to electrify their fleet gradually. FTI can create skidded charging solutions to support a portion of your fleet today and increase the charging capacity over time as your fleet continues to transition to electric vehicles.

Installing EV charging infrastructure can feel like an overwhelming project, however FTI’s e-Skid charging solutions are enabling businesses across the U.S. to embark on seamless sustainability journeys. Contact us today to get started on yours.