It might not do 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in around 3.2 seconds like the latest Tesla Model S P85D twin electric motor marvel, but the AJR Power Solutions Renault Kangoo Z.E. van is hot.
For the last year Andrew Rich and his team at AJR Power Solutions have been working in partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and have recently delivered their new Renault Kangoo Z.E. 100% electric van conversion, with an AJR Power Solutions designed onboard power system utilizing Victron Energy equipment.
Van Power
But why you may ask does an electric van need Victron power?
Years ago as a young man, before I joined the Royal Navy, I had a fun job delivering hot meals (by taxi) in insulated boxes to older people in my local community. The main problem was that these delightful folks just wanted to chat – and some would take rather a long time fumbling in their purse to find the coins to pay for the service. I appreciated that, having plenty of Grandparents of my own, but of course the downside was the next pensioner was likely to get a cold meal!
Fast forward 4 decades or so and at last pensioners can be catered [sic] for.
Cool to Hot
Tower Hamlets Contract Services previously used low power food warmer boxes for their multiple drop meals on wheels service, which they run over short distances across the London borough, yet they always struggled to maintain good food temperatures for their customers.
Something had to be done and a system was designed by AJR Power Solutions together with BGL Rieber to provide some new fan assisted units, which quickly recover their temperature after opening the oven door. Even so, these new Rieber ovens still have to be supplied with the correct power, in order to maintain meal temperatures for the daily deliveries.
These new units (shown above) needed 800 watts each. Shown behind the two ovens there is a custom built enclosure, which houses the Victron equipment used to power the ovens. This consists of:
- 1 x C24/2000 Phoenix 2000 VA inverter
- 2 x 12V 220 Ah Victron Gel Batteries
- 1 x 24V/15A Blue Power Charger
Added to that and for the initial system testing, AJR also installed a Color Control GX with a 3G router connected to the VRM (Victron Remote Management) Portal. This gave the engineers a good overview of the system, plus insight into the energy requirements of the system. They could also monitor and ensure the system’s batteries were fully charged every night.
To complete the overall concept of electric van, ovens and Victron power system, AJR also designed a vehicle charging bollard to charge both the electric van and the onboard Victron batteries.
Conclusion
Personally I think this is an excellent environmentally friendly system and valuable community concept. However when I reach pensionable age, would you mind delivering my hot meal by Tesla – and taking me for a spin too 😉
John Rushworth
Credits
Images and information. Thanks to Andrew Rich, Director, AJR Power Solutions
