Greenlots, a global provider of EV charging software and solutions, will collaborate with Volvo Trucks to deploy charging infrastructure for electric trucks operating out of warehouses in Southern California. This is the first heavy-duty fleet-charging project stemming from a significant public-private partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

CARB awarded $44.8 million to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for Volvo’s Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions (LIGHTS) project. As part of this project, Greenlots will outfit warehouses with heavy- and light-duty charging infrastructure, integrate the chargers with onsite solar PV and energy storage systems and leverage Greenlots’ charging network management software to deploy Volvo’s first electrified trucks in North America.

All of the charging equipment for the project—including both Level 2 chargers and 150kW DC fast-chargers—will operate on Greenlots’ SKY enterprise software platform to enable seamless management of Volvo’s fleet, charging stations and energy storage systems.

Volvo Trucks’ connectivity system will also be integrated to provide truck operators with a comprehensive view of their vehicles’ operational and charging readiness.

Greenlots will work with ABB and other charging station manufacturers to provide the equipment, while partnering with Burns & McDonnell to engineer, construct and install the new EV charging stations. The project will be one of the first in North America to demonstrate a new heavy-duty vehicle charging standard, SAE J3068 (earlier post), in real-world applications.

SAE J3068 is a recommended practice for conductive charging of EVs and supply equipment that use three-phase AC power. SAE J3068 standardizes an AC three-phase-capable coupler and digital control protocols.

This new standard was designed to offer a single vehicle charging coupler solution for three-phase and single-phase AC and DC charging for a class of vehicles. We wanted to combine this new approach for AC charging with 1000V DC charging based on existing SAE communication standards. —Rodney McGee, Chief Engineer of EV Projects, University of Delaware, and SAE Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Conductive Charging Task Force Chair

Specifically, SAE J3068 provides for the following:

A higher power version of an existing charge coupler; e.g., 133 kW at 480 VAC 160 A three-phase.

Bi-directional digital communication between the EV and the EVSE via single wire baseband signaling for local control.

Grid supply voltage is signaled before the EV and SE agree to charge. For example, in Canadaa 600 VAC is more common that 480 VAC but not all EVs can utilize 600 VAC.

Independent control of current limits on a phase-by-phase basis.

The EV may signal requested current to enable a power management system to balance loads better.

Only symmetric three-phase AC suppleis are supported in the first edition; asymmetric supplies such as corner-grounded Delta and High-Leg-Delta maybe supported in the future.

Volvo LIGHTS is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities.