Automotive

Lightning Systems launches mobile charger for out of juice fleet EVs

Lightning Systems launches mobile charger for out of juice fleet EVs
The Lightning Mobile charger is designed to be installed in the back of an electric Transit van, and can deliver up to 80-kW fast charging
The Lightning Mobile charger is designed to be installed in the back of an electric Transit van, and can deliver up to 80-kW DC fast charging
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The Lightning Mobile charger is designed to be installed in the back of an electric Transit van, and can deliver up to 80-kW fast charging
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The Lightning Mobile charger is designed to be installed in the back of an electric Transit van, and can deliver up to 80-kW DC fast charging
The Lightning Mobile electric vehicle charging system can be installed on a trailer, and comes with 192 kWh of battery storage
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The Lightning Mobile electric vehicle charging system can be installed on a trailer, and comes with 192 kWh of battery storage

Most drivers of electric vehicles will keep a weather eye on remaining range to make sure that they don't run out of juice while on the move. But if that does happen, they can't just walk to the nearest refueling point for a can full of charge. This is where mobile EV chargers could help, and the latest comes from Colorado's Lightning Systems.

Aimed at commercial and government fleet operators rather than regular EV drivers, the Lightning Mobile system has been designed for installation in the company's electric Transit 350HD cargo van, though can be mounted on a trailer or fitted in any suitably-sized vehicle.

"Every fleet with electric commercial vehicles will benefit from mobile fast charging," said Lightning's CEO, Tim Reeser. "Uptime is the name of the game for fleets. While operators will schedule vehicle duties to include depot-based charging, there’s always the chance that a vehicle will need a top-up at another location or en route. There is also often the need for DC Fast Charging at locations or times that may not already be permitted or where demand rates would prohibit fast charging direct from the grid. Lightning Mobile fulfills all these needs."

The Lightning Mobile electric vehicle charging system can be installed on a trailer, and comes with 192 kWh of battery storage
The Lightning Mobile electric vehicle charging system can be installed on a trailer, and comes with 192 kWh of battery storage

It comes with 192 kWh of liquid-cooled DC battery storage and is itself charged from a standard Level 2 DC charger. It will serve as a kind of roadside power rescue service or as a mobile battery top up to keep electric trucks, vans and buses on the move, and can offer up 80 kW of DC fast charging (Level 3) to electric fleet vehicles on the road, and Level 2 AC charging at up to 19.2 kW can be optionally delivered too.

Lightning Systems intends to rent or lease the mobile charging setup to fleet operators in the near future.

Source: Lightning Systems

7 comments
7 comments
piperTom
It's cool to think of a all electric world where "fuel" has become an archaic word. But here we have a mistake catcher. And the market is full of old, reliable, cheap generators -- which might be powered by diesel or some sustainable, green fuel. Put your generator on a trailer, then you need only a quick, one-minute, primer charge... after which you hook the trailer to the disabled vehicle to act as a range extender to get back to a real charging station. These inventors have their heads in the clouds, nice for dreaming, but impractical.
Roger Aikins
Seems like a 5 gallon can of gas is way more convenient and cheaper
Mark Keller
Electric vehicles would be monitoring the amount of charge the batteries have in them and should/could/would recommend the nearest charging station to go to long before you should run out of power.
RainerSchulte
Blue Gas- Hydrogen Fuel Cells will dominate the Electric vehicle market. Li is dead- has no power to move 18 Wheelers and airplanes and container ships. And with a Blue Gas Vehicle- the range is huge and tanking superfast for a small car ( 5 Minutes) -not waiting hours for a Li charge. I saw Mercedes Hydrogen City busses in tests at Stuttgart Germany in 1981- 82. Blue Gas will be used by China Vehicles- no more Li. So let us clean up this planet fast! Love this clean air of our Corona LOCKIN cities!
Dziks
I'd like to see a small trailer with a 30kW petrol generator that I could use while going into the wild or on a long 1000km/mile trip in an EV. Just rent it and travel without a need for long recharging brakes.
michael_dowling
They should show a Cybertruck towing that trailer!
ljaques
Sorry, Roger, but a jerry can of gas wouldn't get a drained electric vehicle ANYWHERE. I can see where tow truck companies could profit with one of these little beauties in the very near future.