There is a solution to the so-called «range anxiety», the fear of electric car owners of not being able to find a charging station before the battery runs out. These are portable batteries, a tool that today is used above all in emergency cases – for example if there is an interruption in the public charging network – or in all those remote places or places not served by fixed charging infrastructures. Among the few companies dealing with this solution there is also the Italian E-Gap, the first in Europe to introduce a fast charging service through vans that function as real mobile charging centers.
A portable “power bank”.
Today, among the range of solutions offered by the company, based in Milan, there is also the E-Gap Trolley, a sort of power banks the size of a small suitcase. This product guarantees 7 kWh of charging in 20 minutes, which corresponds to approximately 25 km of autonomy. A still limited range, of course, but “the growth margins for the sector are still very significant”, the company assures. The cost varies “based on the modularity of the offer”, but is approximately around 5 thousand euros. Unlike the actual battery of an electric car, the portable battery system can also be recharged with a simple wall socket.
The target: companies and insurance companies
To date, as mentioned, these portable batteries guarantee rather limited autonomy. A characteristic that makes them suitable above all for corporate fleets, insurance companies, roadside assistance companies and all those who need to offer an emergency, rapid and on-road service. Companies, for example, can make this solution available to employees during business trips or to cover very short distances during events and fairs. Insurance companies, however, can offer i power banks portable as part of its roadside assistance services.
A second life for batteries
Portable charging systems are actually created following a circular economy approach. When the charging capacity drops below 80%, the batteries are no longer suitable for powering an electric car but can still be used as emergency charging systems. In the coming years, the number of electric vehicles to be scrapped will grow dramatically, leaving an enormous quantity of batteries available to be recycled or reconditioned. The European Union has not yet equipped itself with a real supply chain for the recycling of end-of-life batteries, but today there are already techniques capable of recovering 80% – and in some cases even 90-95% – of the most precious materials. Those raw materials can be used to make new batteries for electric vehicles. A small part, however, could also be used for portable charging systems. A solution designed mostly for emergency situations, but which can still prove useful.
On the cover: E-Gap Trolley
