ABB has launched the Terra Smart Connect (SC), a product that will significantly improve the business case for installing electric-vehicle (EV) fast chargers throughout Europe. The Terra SC will be available for delivery in Europe in the second quarter.
The Terra SC is a direct-current (DC) charger specifically designed for convenient fast charging in commercial and office areas. It fully charges an electric car in 30 to 120 minutes, while the driver attends a business meeting, goes to the movies or enjoys a meal. The Terra SC is also suited for people who want to keep driving but don’t necessarily need a full charge: it can charge the battery of currently available EVs from 30 percent to 80 percent in less than half an hour.
The Terra SC is a Web-connected charger that comes with a full range of connectivity features including remote assistance, management and servicing and smart software upgradeability. Its key optional features include RFID and PIN code authorization, a billing interface for parking operators and a Web-based statistics module with data per user to support energy usage reporting. ABB’s connectivity suite supports all existing and future connection standards within the same network.
The growing number of electric vehicles is driving a global market opportunity for charging solutions including sophisticated monitoring systems and software to support the electric grid. ABB estimates that the market for charging infrastructure solutions will be worth $1 billion by 2017. Since launching Europe’s first commercially operated fast-charging station in the Netherlands in May 2010, ABB has delivered and installed many DC charging stations and networks throughout the region. In January, ABB won a tender offer to build a network of 200 fast chargers throughout Estonia, creating the world’s first DC charging infrastructure with full nationwide coverage.
