Getting help from TNO
Why building sustainably is also more profitable
TNO’s business unit MBE (Mobility and Built Environment) works on solutions for, among other things, more efficient transport, sustainable living and a future-proof infrastructure. This business unit proved to be pre-eminently suited to partner with Dot Robot in the Smart Charging project, resulting in the winning of the SSEB subsidy. Ruben: “Dot Robot’s primary question was if they could create sufficient value from Smart Charging to make a good business case for construction companies.” After all, the solution cannot be more costly than the problem. The severity of the construction companies’ problem was expedited by the limitations on the nitrogen emission directive issued by the government. This means that big tender contracts are won by the contractor who can prove they are building emission-free for a certain percentage.
Jai adds: “we’re already working on machines that are deployed in for example city centers or dike reinforcement projects in Natura 2000 areas [protected natural sites across Europe, red.]. Our drive trains provide a green energy mix and ensure that there’s no additional contribution to local nitrogen emissions, nor to global CO2 emissions. At this stage in the electrical building revolution, we know that electrical machines cost about three times what diesel driven machines cost. But since they are allowed to operate in areas in which the traditional machines may not, they allow our end-customers to win tenders and earn back the investment.
On top of that, given the large battery capacity that these machines have, from 500kWh to over 1 MWh, the machines are actually mobile power hubs that can be used to store energy, when excess electricity is available and prices are low, and vice-versa, deliver the energy back to other machines (V2L, vehicle-to-load) or to the grid (V2G, vehicle-to-grid) in times of need. In the end, this additional functionality of the machines, helps to make the business case for the construction companies even better.
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Electric trucks
More about Smart Charging
The principle of Smart Charging
It all starts from the premise that we want to add charging intelligence to a vehicle/machine as well, in addition to the smart applications that charging stations offer. Some of the intelligence can simply not be part of the infrastructure, e.g. information on the timeslots during which the machine will operate (as in, when to charge or discharge), or what type of activity is planned (as in, is a 100% charge required or is 50% enough to last through the day). Moreover, many machines on a construction site are connected straight to the grid, just like you are at home, rather than through an intelligent charging station that can manage the charging process.
For construction projects, integration with the construction planning software is key. For example: from the planning we may see that one of four machines is not scheduled for work tomorrow, so this machine does not need priority charging but it may be used to buffer energy during the day, as long as it is charged sufficiently again for deployment the day after tomorrow.
How do we achieve this?
The essence of the solution is that we balance the machines’ demand and supply of energy, with supply and demand from the electricity grid. For example, at times of excess supply of electricity (a very sunny or windy day with solar panels or wind turbines at high capacity) the machine’s excess battery capacity may be used as a buffer. Vice versa, machines may discharge their batteries partly through V2G bidirectional charging at times of high demand for electricity.
In addition to the day-ahead electricity market, we are also investigating using real-time data to provide solutions for the so-called intra-day, balancing and congestion markets on the actual day itself. This further supports grid companies with maintaining the supply-demand balance and allows the construction companies to profit from an additional part of the electricity market.
Do we use AI in this solution?
Yes, what we commonly refer to as AI is more specifically a collection of Machine Learning algorithms. These algorithms are paramount in enabling truly dynamic solutions; ones that can adapt to constant change on construction sites and across the electricity grid, rather than relying on pre-programmed logic. The algorithms are demanding for the computational power on the machines. The development of our Smart Charging solution therefore goes hand-in-hand with the application of state-of-art on-board vehicle computers and controllers.
Creating preference for electric
Looking at current construction sites, we see that machines are diesel when they can and electric when they must. Smart Charging is one of the solutions if we want to reverse this principle. Creating a machine that is so powerful, enduring, quiet and comfortable that operators will always opt for the electric version, even if they have the traditional option.
Scalability
Making a technically excellent product isn’t enough for it to be successful; the commercial side of things must be equally well thought out. The business case is built around scalability. We want the technology to be widely available, so we can make the most impact in the world. Jai: “Think of how Bosch has made a breakthrough difference in car safety by making ABS (anti-lock braking) available for all cars.” One of the prerequisites for this ideal is that we feel we need to develop this technology without exclusivity to one application area, machine or customer. The SSEB subsidy is crucial in this endeavor. To further enhance the scalability of the technology, we also intend to make it available as a retrofittable add-on for existing vehicles and machines. That’s why modularity is paramount for our Smart Charging technology.
Learn more about Smart Charging
If you want to learn more about our Smart Charging approach, please also read the article we wrote about it.
Exciting times ahead
Background Ruben Brinckmann
Ruben Brinckmann joined the ranks of TNO in 2023 and is a driven and valued proponent of their Fast Track program. With a background in sports and performance psychology, he started out at Dutch football clubs Feyenoord and Vitesse, before making a switch to subsequently recruitment and eventually Akzo Nobel. It was there that he was given the responsibility for digitally innovating corporate venturing. He thoroughly enjoyed the process of cooperation, durability and really advocating change. After some time, Ruben chose to focus more on the field of durability and making even more impact, which is when he ultimately joined Netherlands’ premier research facility TNO.
Background Jai Rambaratsingh
During his study (Mechanical Engineering, Systems & Control Master) at the TU Delft, Jai graduated at Philips, doing research for ASML. Showing commercial aptitude and a keen interest in marketing tech solutions, Jai made a switch to strategy consultancy for Telco and Tech companies at Accenture. He decided to pursue an MBA at the London Business School to further hone his strategic and commercial skills. Jai decided to start a boutique consultancy firm in 2012, called Hedera, which was ultimately sold to Cognizant. In 2019, he met Willem Zwetsloot, an Electrical Engineering graduate, also with a Systems & Control Master. Willem had founded Dot Robot two years earlier and the two decided to join forces, giving Dot Robot focus and scale together, as partners.
