To offer enhanced flexibility for its customers’ fleet charging operations, AMPLY Power announced INRUSH, an innovative containerized infrastructure system for EV charging. The first deployment of this customer-ready solution is occurring with AMPLY’s long-standing customer, the Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN). Through this agreement, AMPLY will design, construct, and operate a charging facility leveraging INRUSH charging capsules. Additionally, AMPLY’s OMEGA Charge Management System will support ATN’s entire electric fleet of 46 transit buses for two years.
Vic Shao, cofounder and CEO of AMPLY Power, says INRUSH is the first solution that leverages a modular container infrastructure. The offering reduces the time required to make charging available, which has been a barrier to EV adoption, Shao explains.
The INRUSH solution provides superior cost-effectiveness and flexibility over traditional fixed charging infrastructure. The containerized charging capsule allows customers to use semi-permanent, portable charging to account for unpredictable changes in operations. This offers fleet operators the ability to charge electric vehicles from any location. The electrical switchgear needed for charging is located inside an upcycled shipping container, which is pre-built offsite to streamline deployment.
INTERIM CHARGING SOLUTION
Portable charging is an ideal solution for operators who are unable to install permanent infrastructure on a site; this could be due to lease agreements, ongoing site transformation, or other reasons. When containers are removed, site restoration is minimal because most of the equipment is located within the container. AMPLY expects design, procurement, and installation costs for the container solution to be roughly 50% less expensive than traditional infrastructure. The setup process takes about six months from start to finish—50% less time than with traditional infrastructure.
“INRUSH was developed specifically to meet the needs of fleets with aggressive EV deployment goals or that need interim charging infrastructure while planning for their permanent infrastructure, which is exactly what Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) needed,” Shao continues. “We are grateful for the continued trust and partnership from ATN as we pioneer the next generation of fleet charging solutions together.”
AMPLY Power worked closely with ATN and other relevant stakeholders to develop a solution tailored for the project’s requirements. While planning ATN’s permanent all-electric facility, AMPLY led efforts to identify a site to temporarily serve ATN’s fleet of buses. Disney’s Toy Story parking lot, which services Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort, was chosen as the ultimate destination for the INRUSH solution.
“As we continue building out our long-term infrastructure for our fleet of battery electric buses (BEBs), we’re excited to take advantage of AMPLY Power’s portable, containerized charging solution to meet our current need for flexibility,” says Diana Kotler, executive director of Anaheim Transportation Network. “This will allow us to continue operating our dozens of BEBs without any interruption in service, while maintaining our commitment to be the state’s first all-electric bus fleet.”
AMPLY-SUPPORTED CHARGING
ATN’s charging facility will include two INRUSH shipping containers, each equipped with five chargers capable of charging 10 buses simultaneously. They will also include two 200kW chargers for more power-intensive 60-ft buses. As part of ATN’s Charging-as-a-Service agreement, AMPLY’s OMEGA Charge Management System (CMS) and technical services will support the facility. OMEGA integrates third-party systems that manage routes, maintenance, and scheduling to guarantee 99.99% EV fleet uptime. AMPLY’s Command Center dashboard monitors these systems in real time.
The launch of INRUSH is the latest milestone in AMPLY Power’s collaborations with ATN and other public transportation agencies in California to further the state’s fleet decarbonization objectives. In 2020, ATN chose AMPLY Power to manage all aspects of charging for the electric buses servicing the city of Anaheim and surrounding communities, signing a 20-year contract for the management of ATN’s charging operations. This includes system design, installation, equipment purchase, operations, and maintenance for a fixed price per kWh consumed, following the Power Purchase Agreement model that was popularized by the solar industry. In February 2021, ATN was awarded a $5 million grant by the California Energy Commission to purchase, install, and integrate a microgrid and solar charging infrastructure, which AMPLY is supporting as well.
Find out more, visit www.amplypower.com.
