CiLoCharging

When developing an overarching, optimal solution for the temporal and organizational processes in a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) logistics depot, the requirements from the originally different and separate application areas of logistics, charging process for electrically powered vehicles, energy supply and traffic management must be integrated:

• Logistics: availability of vehicles at certain times and for certain routes
• Charging infrastructure:
  (a) Current charging statuses and the resulting ranges
  (b) Required charging and operating times of the vehicles
  (c) Enabling spontaneous deliveries to be carried out quickly
• Energy supply:
  (a) Scalable and reliable power supply at the grid connection point of the distribution grid and logistics depot
  (b) Bidirectional power flow from and to the distribution grid
• Traffic management: Enabling recharging in the city for longer delivery routes

In order to adequately take into account the typical framework conditions for express logistics, charging management must be integrated into the existing logistics processes and smart energy management must be provided to integrate electrified logistics depots into the electrical distribution grid in order to ensure the scalability of the fleet depots in an economical manner. The number of vehicles in the depot must be able to grow significantly without having to make expensive investments in the infrastructure, e.g. in the expansion of the grid connection. In addition, the depot can act as a provider of grid-supporting services, such as balancing energy, vis-à-vis the distribution grid operator and use the existing battery capacities in the depot appropriately for this purpose.

The CiLoCharging project aims to develop, prototype and evaluate a corresponding solution both in a simulation and as part of a field test at a logistics depot. Leading partners in the individual domains are working together with recognized research institutions on an optimized, flexible and needs-based solution for requirements-oriented integration and will present it to the public at the end of the project.