As part of Centurion’s drive towards low emissions transport, our Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Project operates entirely off-grid at our Perth depot. The vehicles are powered primarily from 4.4MW’s of solar energy and over 10MWh’s of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installed at our facility.
Throughout most of the year with the constant sunshine in Perth, the solar panels supply the BESS with all the energy required to charge the BEV fleet. The solar arrays have been sized to accommodate majority of weather conditions experienced through the seasons.
To ensure reliability for any particularly bad weather periods during the winter, backup generation is in place. CEA (Construction Equipment Australia) has supplied Atlas Copco generators the project and these operate on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) — a renewable, advanced biofuel derived from waste oils and fats. HVO provides a ~90% reduction in emissions compared to conventional diesel, making it a significantly lower emission alternative.
Our backup generators provide the project with energy security when solar generation to charge the BESS is limited due to prolonged poor weather. It ensures uninterrupted charging capability while keeping emissions to a minimum.
This approach allows us to maintain fully off-grid system powering towards our sustainability objectives.
Link to previous article: https://centurion.net.au/centurions-first-battery-electric-vehicles-hit-the-road/
About Centurion: Centurion is a leading logistics provider in Australia, with a national footprint and a diverse fleet that supports industries from mining to retail. Known for its innovative solutions, Centurion remains committed to sustainability, continually improving the environmental and operational efficiency of its operations.
About CEA: CEA is the leading distributor for capital equipment brands JCB agricultural and construction equipment, Atlas Copco, Ditch Witch, and Dynapac. Supplying a diverse range of equipment to a wide variety of industries CEA actively supports customers in the construction, agriculture, government, infrastructure, defence, waste management, mining, civil works, utility maintenance, and recycling sectors.