Originally developed to provide ready clean power on jobsites, eliminate heat and noise, offset emissions, and reduce maintenance at one of American’s largest utilities – the high performance all-electric generator successfully replaced the diesel genset used in utility step vans for underground work in an urban area.
Systems come in 14.4 or 21.6kWh sizes, delivering 120V or 240V pure sinewave generated power, enabling a wide range of tasks while also providing 1,000W for 12V DC, maintaining chassis function while the engine is not running. In this application, a rooftop HVAC unit for comfort, a four horsepower trash pump used to clear water and debris, internal and external outlets for 120V applications, an external 240V outlet when heavier equipment is required, a variety of work lighting, and hand tools all come ready for work.
Supported by the walk-in box lined with stainless steel cabinetry and table space, these vans act as mobile workshops and, in some sense, offices for the operators that use them daily, powering microwaves, charging devices, and more. The battery is tested to operate at 80 percent of its capacity even after 10 years of use.
“When this utility approached us with the challenge of electrifying their fleet of step vans it felt like the right fit. We were eager to tackle a new set of challenges. Through this effort SmartPX was born,” says Mark Ferri, president and CEO, Viatec.
Standard recharging happens overnight, with a drop cord plugged into a wall outlet. With the fast-charger option, it’s recharged using a Level II EV charger in 2.25 and 3.25 hours respectively for each battery size.
The possibilities for clean, mobile power generation were broad and the system had the ability to handle heavy, highly inductive loads such as welders, among other demanding applications. As it turned out, these weren’t the only uses for SmartPX. It became the surprising answer to an issue with EV rollout in the same fleet.
NOW, MOBILE EV-BOOST CHARGING
SmartPX gensets were already well-positioned to provide the power needed to charge an EV. They could handle the heavy load and were already mobile on jobsites. By mounting four of these units on a trailer fitted with four EVSE chargers, the fleet realized a practical solution to support charging multiple electric vehicles on the go.
The configuration was set up on a standard utility trailer. The trailer was towed behind an EV pickup to extend range, parked at a service point for a crew to stop at in the middle of a long route, and presented it out in the parking lot when guests were lined up to use the few available permanent charging stations. As an added benefit, it avoided having to use diesel generator to rescue EVs in the field.
While there are plenty of ‘EV-rescue’ solutions on the market, most were so substantially heavy that they required a larger engine and chassis to tow them (and a CDL to drive it), had slow re-charging cycles, and could only be used for the single purpose.
With the new reconfiguration, fleet management gained the flexibility to handle supplemental EV charging on the fly with an asset that was field-tested, production ready, and already in their fleet. Moreover, a SmartPX EV-Boost configuration could be disassembled with ease into individual gensets to be deployed anywhere export power is needed in situations like the step van or otherwise.
AVAILABLE TODAY
This setup, now known as SmartPX EV-Boost, demonstrates the reason versatility with EVs is essential if we are to change the fundamentals of how work gets done.
Now, 1-6 SmartPX all-electric gensets can be fitted to a trailer, providing a scalable, mobile setup that allows for extended EV operation in the field, reducing downtime while maintaining enough flexibility for easy redeployment.
SmartPX EV-Boost is a portable, modular Level II charging station utilizing a field-tested, proven electric powertrain. Compact and ready for rapid deployment, it can boost the charge for up to six EVs at a time, allowing you to bring your power where you need it most.
That was the true story of how SmartPX EV Boost made its debut with the help of Viatec.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Fleet transformation is more than just a product – it’s a process. Viatec’s Customer Care platform helps identify the smartest way to electrify fleets today: providing reporting, metrics, change management, and guidance through the process of realizing the most practical decarbonization goals first and how to meet them efficiently. Viatec’s Customer care is the easy button for deploying emissions-reduction strategies as industries bridge their way into EV transition. To learn more, visit www.viatec.us.
