ABB E-mobility has opened the company’s largest DC fast charger production site to date. The 16,000-square-meter E-mobility Centre of Excellence in Valdarno, Tuscany has an annual production capacity of more than 10,000 DC chargers. The company has invested some $30 million at the new site, where it will produce the full range of ABB DC charging solutions.

ABB says the new plant will be capable of producing one DC fast charger every 20 minutes, thanks to its 7 production lines. There are also 15 testing facilities, which are able to simulate over 400 charging sessions per day. The facility will include a 3,200-square-meter space for development and prototyping, as well as integrated automation solutions to connect the shop floor with the warehouse.

The Valdarno facility aims to achieve gold-level LEED certification as an eco-friendly building. ABB says rainwater is collected for irrigation use, 100 percent of production waste is recycled, and all the energy used comes from renewable sources, including a photovoltaic system delivering 720 MWh of electricity per year. The site’s electrical distribution is optimized by ABB Ability Energy and Asset Manager, a platform that monitors and manages over 9,000 devices throughout the facility, including thermal regulation, lighting and air handling.

“The opening of our new Valdarno facility demonstrates ABB E-mobility’s commitment to building a zero-emission future,” said Frank Mühlon, CEO of ABB E-mobility. “In addition to increased production capacity, the investment made in Valdarno helps to expand our innovative R&D activity, ensuring we can continue to cement our reputation as the world leader in electric vehicle charging solutions.”

Source: ABB