Unreliable and fossil fuel-intense electrical grids
BOSTON, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Electrification of cars, buses, and trucks drastically reduces CO2 emissions at the point of use compared to a diesel or petrol alternative. The adoption of EVs across all sectors, with IDTechEx predicting over 180 million electric vehicles to be sold annually by 2044. This will contribute to a drastic reduction in tailpipe emissions. However, the overall emissions are usually highly dependent on the energy mix that goes into grid electricity production. In many economies, this contains significant amounts of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Beyond CO2 emissions, some grids are already at capacity, and the increased load of an electric transport sector risks blackouts and power supply issues. South Africa is an EV market with both of these issues, and several innovations have been made using distributed power generation to tackle these challenges. IDTechEx’s research report, “Off-Grid Charging For Electric Vehicles 2024-2034: Technologies, Benchmarking, Players and Forecasts”, explores the challenges and solutions associated with charging EVs in the context of constrained electricity grids.

The South African utility grid is subject to frequent load-shedding, periods when demand exceeds supply, and utility operators are forced to impose rolling black or brownouts of up to 50% capacity. This is a problem for all forms of domestic and industrial electrical use but becomes an especially pronounced problem for commercial EV operators. Fleet operators often must charge at predesignated times to maximize uptime and complete all planned routes. If the grid fails during a charging spot, the entire schedule may be adversely affected by factors beyond an operator’s control. This is an unusual grid situation; however, it presents a possible worst-case scenario for grid-congested and EV-saturated regions. In 2022, a heatwave in California prompted the state government to ask EV owners not to charge to conserve energy. The growth in electric vehicle sales will only make such problems more widespread.
South Africa also has a very carbon-intensive energy mix, with approximately 70% of power generation being from coal. This directly translates into higher lifecycle CO2 emissions from EVs powered by the electrical grid. Whilst South Africa has a particularly fossil fuel energy mix, the source of electricity plays a critical role in the lifecycle emissions of an electric vehicle.  
Disturbed generation gives renewable and grid-independent electricity
One possible solution being trialed in South Africa, amongst other places, is harnessing distributed renewable microgrids to form the backbone of charging networks. By integrating a solar farm, large-scale energy storage (ES), and high-powered charging outlets, Vrendal-based Zero Carbon Charge plans to build an etruck charging network. Not only does this decouple charging from an unreliable grid, it also avoids placing excess electrical demand on utilities, avoids the need for costly grid expansions, and provides free and 100% renewable energy for the trucks to operate on. This is not limited to South Africa; the USA, in particular, has also seen a boom in companies offering grid-free solar-powered charging. In the US, many of the products are smaller scale and transportable, allowing easy setup for EV users who want quick access to EV charging.
Easy setup, no grid connection, but slow charging rates
The main challenge with distributed solar generation for EV charging is the low power output of photovoltaic panels. Most produce around 250 Watts per square meter, which is relatively low. In fact, to charge at 22kW (generally considered Level 2 fast charging), a solar canopy would need to be at least 10 x 10 meters, a considerable footprint, especially in an urban environment. The other challenge is storing energy, as charging will not always be required constantly, so an on-site battery is required to store the generated electricity. Without an integrated on-site battery, charging is impossible when there is no sunlight, such as inclement weather or overnight. On-site battery storage can combat this intermittency.
 
 
Larger solar farms with integrated energy storage can become islanded microgrids, and with enough on-site storage and photovoltaic production, potential grid-independent fast charging is possible. This is the approach proposed for the South African etruck charging network. It is important to note that purely solar solutions are likely to be geographically restricted to areas with high photovoltaic potential. Thus, it is no surprise that the leading regions are Western regions of the US and places like South Africa. Beam Global, a supplier of EV canopy chargers, recently announced its first sales in the European market to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense. However, the chargers will not be deployed in the mainland of the UK; they will be deployed on a military base in Cyprus, one of the sunniest regions on the continent.
Despite technical challenges, the aging and fossil fuel-heavy nature of grids combined with high EV uptake call for new charging solutions, and IDTechEx predicts that solar charging systems will make up a sizeable portion of the overall US$16 billion off-grid charging infrastructure hardware market by 2034. IDTechEx research also indicates several other technologies likely to be adopted for off-grid EV charging. Hydrogen fuel cell charging is likely to emerge as a key solution for use cases requiring much greater power per area, with a particular expected focus on electrified construction sites. More niche technologies include AWE (airborne wind energy), which harnesses high altitude winds for distributed power generation. For an in-depth look at solar EV charging, as well as alternative technology options such as AWE and hydrogen see IDTechEx’s latest research on the topic, “Off-Grid Charging For Electric Vehicles 2024-2034: Technologies, Benchmarking, Players and Forecasts”.
To find out more about this IDTechEx report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/OffGridEV.
For the full portfolio of electric vehicle market research from IDTechEx, please see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/EV.
About IDTechEx:
IDTechEx provides trusted independent research on emerging technologies and their markets. Since 1999, we have been helping our clients to understand new technologies, their supply chains, market requirements, opportunities and forecasts. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com. 
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Media Contact:
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The New P-SERIES Unleashes Efficiency with a 30 Kilogram Payloadand the Longest Reach of Any Cobot to Date
CHICAGO, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Doosan Robotics Inc., one of the world’s leading collaborative robot (cobot) manufacturers, unveiled its newest and most powerful P-SERIES (PRIME-SERIES) today at Automate 2024, bringing to the world of robotics the longest reaching cobot to date.

Today’s P-SERIES announcement by Doosan Robotics was marked by a show floor unveiling of the new P3020 – the world’s most powerful cobot for palletizing in existence. The P3020 offers a payload of 30kg (60lbs) and reach of 2,030mm (80in), bringing the ability to palletize from floor to 2m high (stacking up to 10 layers of boxes approximately 8 inches tall) using its simple fixed base without a lift.
Doosan Robotics has successfully dominated the high-payload cobot market in the 20kg range and above, which includes advanced palletizing solutions. Since launching the H-SERIES in 2022, Doosan Robotics has attracted major global customers such as Schiphol Airport and Wacker Korea, significantly enhancing its global market share by 72%. This year, with the introduction of the P-SERIES, the cobot featuring the highest payload and reach yet, expectations are set to soar beyond previous achievements.
Additional key features of the P-SERIES cobot lineup include lower power consumption compared to similar payload cobots by applying its built-in gravity compensation mechanism, inherent wrist-singularity free, and a 5 degree-of-freedom movement with the 4th axis removed and 6th axis speed increased to 360 degrees/second. Doosan Robotics’ continued priority on optimal safety across its solutions is also fully present in the new P3020. This includes achieving the highest PL (e) and Cat 4 safety ratings to ensure both a max-powered and max-safety experience for users.
The motion platform company’s newly unveiled P3020 palletization cobot will be on full display (Booth #850) at Automate 2024 (May 6-9), alongside the company’s ready-to-sell solutions with best-in class partners in Machine Tending, Palletizing, Welding, and Food & Beverage services.  
Driven by its vision to elevate everyday experiences and redefine labor workflows, Doosan Robotics provides a wide, exceptional range of AI cobots aimed to bring about a paradigm shift across various sectors, such as palletizing, manufacturing, logistics, food & beverage, architecture, and service industries. These cutting-edge solutions transcend the constraints of conventional robotics, adeptly maneuvering through intricate scenarios while infusing tasks with enhanced efficiency, safety, and ingenuity. Moreover, the AI system boasts continuous learning capabilities, effortlessly updating its model by autonomously downloading required modules for smooth integration.
“As a motion platform company, Doosan Robotics is meeting the ever-growing need for cobots to mimic human motion, powerfully and safely,” said William Ryu, CEO at Doosan Robotics. “The robotics industry continues to grow at an exponential pace and our lineup of software, cobots and AI differentiates us in our mission to develop cobots with a ‘max-powered, max-efficiency, max-safety’ mindset.”
For more details and videos on the new P3020 cobot by Doosan Robotics, please visit the Doosan Robotics YouTube channel here. For more info, images, and other assets regarding Doosan Robotics’ Automate 2024 overall presence, please visit the press kit here or contact [email protected].
ABOUT DOOSAN ROBOTICSDoosan Robotics is a global leader in collaborative robot solutions, embodying the principle of ‘Innovation in every motion, revolutionizing the way we work.’ Doosan robots, known for world-class safety and precision, enhance task efficiency across various sectors from manufacturing to service, enabling people to focus on more valuable work. More information about Doosan Robotics is available at https://www.doosanrobotics.com/en/.
 
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MARKHAM, ON, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Enghouse Interactive, a global leader in contact center and video technology solutions, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Voxtron, the premier provider of call center solutions in the Middle East. This collaboration is marked by Voxtron’s introduction of the innovative Voxvantage Cloud Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), leveraging advanced contact center technology from Enghouse.

The Official Launch will take place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai. Industry participants and media are invited to RSVP to attend by emailing [email protected].
Date: 9th May 2024 Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Venue: Grand Hyatt Dubai, RSVP: [email protected]
Voxvantage CCaaS marks a significant advancement for Enghouse Systems, underscoring a commitment to enhancing customer experiences throughout the region. Hosted on the robust data center infrastructure of Moro Hub, Voxtron guarantees exceptional reliability, security, and scalability.
The launch will feature distinguished speakers, including Tracy Reynolds, Canadian Consul General in Dubai, Vincent Mifsud, Global President of Enghouse Systems, and Arif AlMalik, Chief Digital Products Officer of Moro Hub. They will explore the transformative potential of contact solutions in improving customer experience (CX) in the Middle East.
Mr. Mifsud expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to collaborate with Voxtron and Moro Hub. This partnership is crucial as we aim to provide our call center technology, enhance our presence across the Middle East by providing customers with leading technology that improves customer experiences.”
The event will also offer excellent networking opportunities and insightful discussions on the future of customer engagement solutions.
About Enghouse Interactive: 
Enghouse Interactive, a subsidiary of Enghouse Systems Limited, is a global leader in contact center software and video technology solutions offering its customers and partners the valuable advantage of choice. Enghouse Interactive empowers businesses to transform contact centers from cost centers into powerful growth engines by simplifying complex integrations through open standards and supporting various telephony technologies to ensure seamless customer accessibility across channels and locations. 
About Voxtron: 
Voxtron Middle East is headquartered in Dubai, U.A.E., and has a global presence with offices and affiliates in Qatar, India, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia, Hong Kong, Portugal, and Thailand. Voxtron has been delivering cost-effective customer engagement optimization solutions in collaboration with leading technology vendors such as Enghouse Interactive, SAGE, Verint, and Clarabridge, for over a decade. This extensive portfolio positions Voxtron as a unique provider capable of delivering complete, fully-featured solutions to customers and partners.
Enghouse Video Contact: Tim Peters, VP, Global Demand Generation Leader, Enghouse Systems, [email protected]
 

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