ABB Partner with AFC Energy to Develop High-Power EV Charging Solutions

ABB recently announced the beginning of a strategic partnership with AFC Energy PLC with the combined vision of generating effective electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for locations that are outside of grid range.

 

Chief Executive Officer of AFC Energy, Adam Bond, and Head of ABB’s global business for E-mobility Infrastructure Solutions at ABB, Frank Muehlon. Image used courtesy of AFC Energy 

 

AFC Energy is a leading provider of alkaline fuel cell systems that use hydrogen to produce electricity. The company aims to offer its global customers the best technological solutions that can perform efficiently, generate clean energy, and generate a low operating cost.

 

An End-to-End Solution

The collaboration will involve the provision of ABB’s energy storage solution and market-leading DC electric vehicle fast chargers and AFC Energy’s zero-emission, high-efficiency hydrogen fuel cell. With this combination of cutting-edge technology, both company’s aim to deliver an automated, end-to-end solution that is can be used for high-power charging sites at locations with limited access to the grid. 

In a news release from ABB, Head of the company’s global business for E-mobility Infrastructure Solutions at ABB, Frank Muehlon, commented: “ABB has led the way in e-mobility solutions and is proud to have played a key role in driving EV adoption rates across the world. This partnership with AFC Energy allows us to continue to push the boundaries of e-mobility, specifically targeting off-grid applications and thus enabling a much wider reach of e-mobility based on clean energy.”

It has been forecasted that by 2040, the number of EVs on the road will be just below 500 million, and 58% of all new passenger vehicle sales and 47% of the global fleet will be electric. This means that the right infrastructure needs to be in place to be able to support the charging of these vehicles no matter where they are in the world. Both ABB and AFC Energy aim to meet the demand for such infrastructure through the deployment of high-power EV charging systems across key ABB markets. These include charge point operators, private and logistics vehicle hubs, and urban transportation. The charging systems might also be used in aviation and marine industries to power marine and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft.

 

Image used courtesy of AFC Energy

 

Both ABB and AFC Energy will take the integrated product to market and create a communications strategy for system branding and deployment. In the same news release, Muelon concluded: “Our partnership with AFC Energy offers potential beyond the traditional EV market. The DC fast-charging system will have applications for commercial and logistics carriers, marine and urban transport. Sustainable solutions are also being developed for other growing segments like data centers and utilities to enable optimized carbon footprint.”