eWorkVehiclePower - Hybrid fuel-cell/battery-electric power-unit for work vehicles

The eWorkVehiclePower project develops and demonstrates a modular and scalable concept for flexible, cost-competitive and energy efficient electrical powering of professional working vehicles operating in areas with limited electrical grid infrastructure for charging. The hybrid fuel cell battery powering unit innovatively combines minimal usage of relatively costly fuel cell systems and maximum usage of technically mature and cost-competitive battery systems. It provides the necessary duty cycle power in areas where the electrical grid infrastructure cannot support large-scale battery charging, and it avoids the need for power generation from on-board combustion engine driven sources.

In the first instance, the eWorkVehiclePower concept is developed for market-ready integration into the electrical power take-off (E-PTO) system being the core business of Banke ApS, which has successfully been sold in around 350 units with capacities of 15-72 kWh for battery electric powering of energy consuming on-board hydraulic systems on heavy-duty refuse collection vehicles and mobile cranes. By broadening the cover of the current mainly Northwest European E-PTO market, characterized by a relatively good charging infrastructure, to a broader Western European geographic area with a generally weaker electrical grid infrastructure, the served market will be significantly expanded. 

The concept combines the best in market fuel cell system with Banke ApS’ next-gen battery system which has a high energy density. Taking into account specific duty-cycle requirements, the eWorkVehiclePower concept is developed in a modular construction to combine battery system sizes of approximately 18-70 kWh with a 4-5 kW fuel-cell to deliver a total capacity of around 55-110 kWh on duty cycles of 8-16 hours.