Tritium launches modular charging for scalable charging networks

Australian company Tritium has launched its MSC hardware platform to enable “truly scalable electric vehicle charging networks anywhere in the world”. A modular charging system approach is designed to both cater to today’s smaller electric car batteries, as well as being able to scale for future expansion.

According to Tritium, the MSC (Modular Scalable Charging) hardware platform provides customers with the flexibility to increase the power level of their charger as EV charging capabilities advance and combines with a “pay as you go” approach. Charger power can be increased in 25kW increments, starting at 25kW and increasing to 350kW and beyond.

“This has been something the industry and our customers have asked for over the years, and we are the first company in the world to deliver it,” said Jane Hunter, Tritium CEO. “This solution is future-proofing governments and network operators across the globe, something they have been crying out for. No longer is a charger just a charger; instead, it’s a first step to meet the needs of both today’s and tomorrow’s electric vehicles.”

Charging systems currently generally require network operators to select and install chargers from a set of prefabricated charging options, often set at 50kW, 175kW or 350kW. This precludes options in between, and also offers the extra anxiety if one were to purchase a different electric vehicle in future with differing requirements, as this would preclude an expensive charger exchange.

Using the MSC system, operators can purchase an RTM75 charger but start at 25kW or 50kW, pending their current power requirements, and scale to 75kW as their charging needs increase. The first product on the MSC Hardware Platform is the RTM75, with the PKM150 and PKM350 following in 2021.

The RTM75 allows for two EVs to charge at a time and supports all charging standards on the market, including CCS and CHAdeMO. Plug & Charge (ISO 15118) technology is also enabled, eliminating credit card payments or RFID authentication at the charger, and streamlining the process for drivers.

Additionally, a ‘Whisper Mode’ was included, giving owners the ability to “derate the charger’s power to meet municipal noise abatement requirements”. This would be in case of urban noise regulations. While this seems ironic given the current level of traffic noise in urban areas, this may prove a significant advantage in the future. In terms of usability, the charging stations also impress with their ability to withstand temperatures from -35°C to +50°C (-31°F to +122°F), and offer protection of the internal circuitry by entirely enclosing the system.

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