COLLABORATION TO DEVELOP BATTERY & CHARGING SOLUTIONS
Avant Power and Kempower launch collaboration to develop battery and charging solutions
Avant Tecno’s subsidiary Avant Power Ltd and Kempower Corporation have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to collaborate on solutions for high-power EV charging, local energy storage and intelligent energy management. The long-term goal is to bring these technologies together into a single, scalable energy solution.
Demand for high-power EV charging is growing, including at sites where limited grid connection capacity and local grid constraints make it difficult to increase charging power. At the same time, charging-related power peaks create a growing need for intelligent energy management.
The collaboration aims to address these challenges by combining the strengths of two Finnish companies: Kempower’s expertise in charging technology for demanding charging environments and cloud-based services, and Avant Power’s expertise in battery energy storage, system integration and the intelligent forecasting, control and optimization services of its OptiGrid™ microgrid solution.
First pilot to begin
In the first phase of the collaboration, a battery energy storage solution developed by Avant Power will be piloted together with Kempower’s charging solutions at Kempower’s site in Lahti, Finland.
The pilot will provide practical experience of using battery energy storage as part of a charging environment and integrating it to support the charging system. For example, the solution can be used to manage power peaks and make more efficient use of the available grid connection capacity.
“There is a clear market need for solutions that enable charging power to be increased without having to size the grid connection according to the highest momentary peak demand. Battery energy storage and intelligent control can play a key role in enabling this,” says Mikko Piepponen, Chief Operating Officer at Avant Power.
Bringing charging, energy storage and intelligent control together
The collaboration will also focus on integrating Kempower’s cloud-based services with Avant Power’s OptiGrid™ microgrid solution. The aim is to create a more intelligent system in which the charging system, battery storage and energy use can be optimized based on factors such as consumption forecasts, electricity prices and the specific operational needs of the site.
“The next step in the development of charging infrastructure is not simply about more powerful chargers, but about creating an integrated system in which charging technology, local energy storage and intelligent energy management work seamlessly together. Our collaboration with Avant Power supports this direction,” says Mikko Veikkolainen, Vice President, Research and Innovation at Kempower.
The collaboration is intended to progress in phases, from the first pilots and system integrations towards increasingly integrated battery and charging systems. Future areas of development will also include participation in electricity markets and functionalities designed to improve system reliability.
The collaboration supports both companies’ ambition to advance the transition to electric mobility and a more flexible energy system, while improving the scalability, reliability and energy efficiency of charging infrastructure.
About Avant Power
Avant Power Ltd is a Finnish technology company and part of Avant Group. We develop smart microgrid, energy management and energy storage solutions that strengthen the energy capabilities of businesses and organizations and help turn energy into a manageable resource in an increasingly electrified society. We also develop and manufacture innovative high-capacity batteries for Avant loaders. avantpower.fi
About Kempower
We design and manufacture reliable and user-friendly DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles. Our vision is to create the world’s most desired EV charging solutions for everyone, everywhere. Our product development and production are based in Finland and in the U.S., with the majority of our materials and components sourced locally. We focus on all areas of e-mobility, from electric cars, trucks, and buses to machines and marine. Our modular and scalable charging system and world-class software are designed by EV drivers for EV drivers, enabling the best user experience for our customers around the world. Kempower shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. kempower.com
