DragonFly Energy (DFLI) wants the trucking industry to re-think how it manages power levels in lithium-ion batteries with the introduction of its new intelligence technology, which is now available for the heavy-duty truck market as a replacement for aging lead acid batteries.
Speaking to media at the American Truck Association (ATA) annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Chief Revenue Officer Wade Seaburg explained that the new Battle Born All-Electric APU is an advanced lithium-ion battery system that provides ample wattage to run auxiliary power on trucks, even when the vehicle is not running.
"It's an advanced communication technology. When we say advanced, we're actually able to monitor and give alerts and alarms for not only just at the pack level, but also at the system level, which is what the vehicle's going to make decisions around, is what's happening inside of the battery at the system level," Seaburg said. "We can also monitor individual batteries, which allows us to have incredible diagnostics and incredible predictive analytics for the fleets. So where you'll find our batteries is typically in between the frame rails right behind the cab, or if it's a tanker fleet, a bulk fleet, they might have a PTO back there and we'll have to put a side box, frame, frame mount, or some other variant of that."
The Battle Born All-Electric APU is an advanced lithium-ion battery system that provides wattage in order to run auxiliary power - even when the vehicle is not running.Clean Trucking
Adding intelligence into the system allows for advanced communication and can deliver more information to the fleets than they've ever had with how their auxiliary power is being handled, Seaburg explained.
"We can also set customer alerts and access historical data through the cloud so that the fleets could see exactly how their drivers are performing, if the system is engaged, or being able to integrate with the ELD provider."
Compared to other Bluetooth batteries, you're able to connect to the battery, see how one individual battery is doing, "and check that battery's state of health. You're also to do intermediary devices, but tying your battery bank is required to see the full system, but then you can't see what's happening with an individual battery."
DragonFly's new APU allows customers to do both.
"It also allows for incredible accuracy," Seaburg continued. "By having intelligence inside of the battery, we're not monitoring the bank through an external shunt, which is typically what's used today, and it lacks that accuracy level. It also lacks other diagnostics that we're able to unlock by having intelligence inside."
The batteries are connected wirelessly to a hub, and then that hub is able to connect hardwired into the vehicle. You also are able to connect wirelessly over Bluetooth to the hub, and then that tells you how your whole system's doing. Setting up the system is simple, whether it's being done at an upfit center or at a fleet's garage. You're able to simply scan the hub and then the app drives you through the process. The app is currently available on iOS only; Android compatibility is due early next year.
Seaburg confirmed the Battle Born All-Electric APU is available through all of the major modification and updates centers. "It pairs with PartSmart, Smart Air, with TK's system, with climate, whatever HVAC system you're using, this is just a better energy platform for that system."
