Powering the future for Australian sustainable transport

ABB has been selected by Chargefox as a key technology partner and supplier for its ultrarapid charging network. ABB’s Terra High Power electric vehicle chargers enable the launch of Australia’s first liquid-cooled charging station.

Chargefox, which plans to build a government-backed network of electric vehicle stations connecting major cities in Australia to make long trips as feasible for electric vehicles as for fossil-fueled vehicles, has opened its first site in Euroa, Victoria on the Hume Highway, some 160 km north-east of Melbourne.

The site features two of ABB’s most technologically advanced high-speed chargers, the Terra HP. The 350 kW Terra HP charging stations are the first with liquid-cooled cables to be installed in Australia and are capable of delivering up to 400 km of range in 15 minutes, making them the fastest of any charger currently deployed across the country. The Chargefox ultrarapid network will extend to a total of 21 sites to be launched before 2020.

The second Chargefox site, which will also feature two 350 kW Terra HP chargers, is planned for Barnawartha North, near Albury, and will be deployed before the end of 2019. The addition of a further two high-power charge stations on the main corridor between Melbourne and regional Victoria will dramatically reduce charging time for drivers travelling interstate.

Frank Muehlon, Managing Director for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at ABB, said: “ABB is proud to collaborate with Chargefox and its partners on this innovative venture, the first of its kind in Australia, and to be able to assist in deploying the first of the new generation of high-power charging stations in Asia Pacific.

“Australia has set itself some ambitious carbon reduction targets and we are delighted that our pioneering charging technology can assist in driving the increased adoption of electric vehicles and the resultant benefits for the environment.”

ABB’s Terra HP chargers employ the CCS charging format, one of the main industry standards. They can also support the CHAdeMO DC fast charging standard, enabling them to charge all electric vehicles available on the market today and those soon to be released onto the local market.

The Terra HP also benefits from the ABB Ability Connected Services digital networking suite portfolio, linking the charging station to payment platforms and smart grid systems. The cloud-based ABB Ability connection also enables smart trip planning for travellers by indicating where the next recharge stop will be.

ABB Ability delivers web-enabled connectivity that allows e-mobility charging network operators to perform remote monitoring, remote diagnosis, remote upgrade, online payment and energy management, while ensuring high levels of safety and availability of the charging service.

As an innovator and provider of a wide range of products and solutions in sustainable electric mobility, ABB was a logical partner for Chargefox.

“When choosing hardware for the first Chargefox ultrarapid sites, we were really looking for a solution that was flexible, straightforward to install and met approval requirements from relevant bodies,” said Evan Beaver, Charging Manager for Chargefox. “ABB’s Terra HP fast charging solution met this brief, with the additional benefit of ABB’s equipment being well-known and trusted by network operators.

“ABB is at the forefront of EV technology, with their Terra HP chargers suitable for all types of electric vehicles on the market today. We are confident this technology will also ensure we are future ready as Australia’s EV market grows. We are extremely excited to deploy the first fast chargers of this power in Australia, and keen to hear from our clients about how their experience is for these first two sites.”

As the world leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, ABB offers the full range of charging solutions for electric cars, electric and hybrid buses as well as electrification solutions for ships and railways. ABB entered the EV-charging market back in 2010, and today has a fast-growing global installed base of 8000 ABB DC chargers, including high-power chargers up to 350 kW installed across 68 countries, more chargers than any other manufacturer.

Fortune Magazine recently ranked ABB #8 on its list of companies that are “changing the world” for the advances it has made in e-mobility and electric vehicle (EV) charging.

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change, Australia has set a target of reducing carbon emissions by 26% by 2030. At 1.7% growth rate, Australia’s population expands at double the rate of the United States and the United Kingdom. This means every year 407,000 people are added to the Australian transportation system, which currently relies on costly oil imports. If Australia extensively adapts to an electric-powered mobility system, it can eliminate 16 million barrels of imported oil every year by 2030, according to research led by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).