DS-APR23-PG40_Layout 1 20/04/2023 12:59 Page 1
FEATURE LINEAR MOTION
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Feature
The answer to fleet EV charging? Linear guides from
HepcoMotion have been built into a system capable of
charging eight cars in eight hours from just one charger…
FULL CHARGE AHEAD! W
ith the rise in popularity of electric vehicles, many businesses are choosing to adopt EV fleet vehicles.
Finding the right charging solution for these can, however, be challenging due to the costs faced when installing ports capable of charging multiple vehicles simultaneously. In response to this, LEMIL, a Spanish-based
industrial electrical equipment and installation specialist, has developed an automated station that optimises the charging process for fleets of electric vehicles. While a traditional charging station would
require eight high-power chargers, this system can run eight charging stations with just one 100kW charger – allowing a full charge for eight cars in eight hours. According to the company, this is a cost- effective solution for small and medium companies.
LINEAR MOVEMENT In operation the charger moves along two 10m parallel linear guides, charging each car in sequence as programmed by a KUKA robot to optimise the recharging infrastructure. Completely autonomous, the robot plugs the cable into an electric vehicle’s charging port, removes it, and plugs it into the next car for charging. HepcoMotion’s heavy-duty HDS2 linear guides are central to the system. These smoothly move the robot and charging station along the tracks with high repeatability and precision. Specified to move at 2m/s, HDS2 positions the charging station with high repeatability and precision, enabling each car to be charged. With a payload capacity of up to 68kN, HDS2 can easily manage the 670Kg
40 DESIGN SOLUTIONS APRIL 2023
payload required in this application to move the KUKA robot, electric case and control case. HepcoMotion has gained a reputation for its high-end, low-maintenance products, thanks to its V guide technology. V guide technology guarantees a long service life for bearings as they can easily be readjusted when a small amount of wear occurs, allowing the system to continue running. Moreover, when the V bearings reach the end of their calculated life, they can be replaced individually, saving time and money. This system has a specified system life of ten years which HDS2 can confidently handle. The charging station needs to operate 24/7 to allow company vehicles to charge constantly. As a
The robot plugs the cable into an electric vehicle’s charging port, removes it, and plugs it into the next car for charging
as the guides must perform on un-machined surfaces and tolerate a degree of misalignment. Hepco’s V bearing design allows the bearing to perform on uneven surfaces and cope with variances in the mounting surfaces. Parallelism of ±0.05mm enables minimal setup time to assemble the system accurately.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY With energy consumption key, as it is for many applications these days, the drive motor energy consumption needs to be low as some potential customers will only have 220V power available at their premises. Of course, a low-drive energy consumption solution is also cost-effective to run, further meeting LEMIL’s core requirements. As HDS2 is a low friction guide, it does not require a powerful motor, providing a cost-effective solution with low energy consumption. With plans for serial production, it was important to have a modular, scalable charging facility that could adapt to the needs of each customer’s fleet. Being available in modular lengths, Hepco’s HDS2 guides are well suited to this application. The HDS2 guides are accurately machined and ended to make up butted sets, allowing LEMIL to provide for different-sized fleets. This also means that
result, continuous operation, without the need to be stopped regularly for routine maintenance – re-lubrication of the linear guide, for example – is key. Hepco specified low-maintenance cap wipers for the HDS2 guides, providing lubrication to the contact surfaces in a simple and hassle-free way with long lubrication intervals. Of further benefit, HDS2 is highly tolerant to misalignment when setting up two rail systems in parallel. This was a key consideration for LEMIL
customers can easily extend the charging station if their fleet of cars increases in the future, providing flexibility and future-proofing systems. The first charging station is currently being
installed in Spain, with plans for serial production in the future.
HepcoMotion
T: 01884 243400
www.hepcomotion.com
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