The use of charging stations is associated with the aims of making considerable savings in operating and capital costs, of improving health and safety at work, and of optimising the use of mobile energy. The following practical examples show very clearly the great benefits and permanent added value of a HOPPECKE charging station.
Practical example 1 – Grocery retailer
A leading grocery retailer wishing to reduce operating costs in all its distribution centres decided on a charging station equipped with trak® air battery systems and a trak® Xchange TU changeover system. Thanks to the use of the HOPPECKE system it was possible to record a significant reduction in AC power supply and in the number of power units consumed. This resulted in operating cost savings, from the reduced energy requirement [kWh], of 30% as compared with conventional chargers and 18% when compared with the existing HF chargers. Over and above that, a considerable saving in personnel costs was possible, since full-time staff for battery changeover in the centralised charging room were no longer required.
Practical example 2 – Automobile manufacturer
The taking over of new production work in the plant led to an expansion in workload and increased logistical effort. This made it necessary for more vehicles to be charged and utilised with greater efficiency. Through the installation of a charging station with a space-saving two-storey trak® Xchange FU battery changeover unit, it was possible to double the charging capacity within the existing floor space. Construction of a new charging area was no longer necessary and this measure gave an enormous saving in capital costs.
Practical example 3 – Chemical and Pharmaceutical concern
On account of the increased throughput of roll box pallets in the order picking area, new low-level order pickers were required. The new circumstances in operation meant that it was not efficient to connect the vehicles directly to the chargers, since this would only have increased vehicle fleet costs and wasted valuable space. After careful consideration, the customer decided to purchase changeover batteries with an efficient battery changeover system and the monitoring system trak® monitor, which would undertake management of the battery fleet. This made possible a 20% reduction in capital costs. In addition, thanks to the trak® monitor system, the cost of battery maintenance was also lowered. By downloading reports from the trak® monitor battery management system, the peak periods of battery utilisation could be managed and planned. This information was used to calculate and analyse the amount and cost of energy for charging the battery pool. The next step planned is the implementation of the HOPPECKE energy management system in the remaining 4 charging stations. This should reduce energy costs for the charging stations still further, and integrate the charging stations into the overall energy management of the company.