Finnish fast-charging manufacturer Kempower has announced a pioneering partnership with global logistics provider DP World to introduce Europe’s first ultra-high-power 500A continuous charging system at the DP World London Gateway port facility. This collaboration will support the charging of Kalmar electric straddle carriers, offering ultra-rapid charging and contributing to more efficient, eco-friendly operations.
The new charging system powers eight Kalmar electric straddle carriers, each capable of going from 0% to full charge in just 45 minutes. Designed for high efficiency, the system’s modular design ensures redundancy, guaranteeing a continuous operation window of three to four hours, perfectly aligning with driver break schedules. This eliminates almost all noise pollution, vibrations, and emissions, enhancing the port’s sustainability.
Kempower’s system boasts the smallest footprint on the market, making it an ideal space-saving solution that integrates seamlessly into existing port infrastructure with minimal adjustments.
As part of the partnership, Kempower has provided eight liquid-cooled charging Satellites, eight 500 kW Power Units, and the Kempower ChargEye charging management system. The first charging station was commissioned in May 2024.
“We are very excited to be part of this ground-breaking project to electrify DP World London Gateway,” said Jussi Vanhanen, Chief Market Officer at Kempower. “Our experience and collaboration with port OEMs allowed us to deeply understand DP World’s needs and deliver an optimal charging solution. Our strong relationship with Kalmar enabled comprehensive interoperability testing to ensure seamless integration with the electric straddle carriers.”
Andrew Bowen, UK Chief Operating Officer at DP World, added, “We are delighted to work with Kempower, alongside our long-time partner Kalmar, to convert our hybrid straddle carrier fleet to fully electric. This partnership is a key part of our green investment strategy to become a net-zero logistics organization by 2050, while providing the best logistics solutions for our customers.”
The electrification of straddle carriers is a significant step towards DP World’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040, with an interim target of reducing its carbon footprint by 28% by 2030.
