Now we can also calculate the climate footprint of appliance cabinets for electric car chargers

In collaboration with Schneider Electric and BS Elcontrol, ChargeNode has developed one of the world's first climate-calculated appliance cabinets. Through integrated CO2 calculation, it is now possible to see the total climate footprint of the appliance cabinet used for large-scale electric vehicle charging, including each component. The first cabinet with climate calculation was delivered in autumn 2023.

In order to reduce the climate impact, it is necessary to calculate the current situation first — but the calculations are not always in place. Electric car charging has developed rapidly and, as it has, new questions from consumers have emerged, including on climate footprint. ChargeNode, a fast-growing company in the electric car industry, has, together with Schneider Electric, one of the leaders in climate action, and BS Elcontrol, a manufacturer of control systems, developed a complete CO2 calculation of the control systems used for charging electric cars. Appliance cabinet ChargeNode will be able to provide all relevant climate data for the control systems since autumn 2023.

“At Schneider Electric, we have long worked to provide visibility into the environmental footprint of our products throughout their lifecycle. This collaboration shows how we can help companies reduce emissions while meeting demand. We have performed and documented lifecycle analysis for more than 3,000 product ranges, covering approximately 87 percent of all our product sales in Sweden in 2023,” says Valentin Monteiro, Director Business Development & Sustainability at Schneider Electric.

“The carbon footprint is one of many environmental factors that we can calculate for our products. These are key data that we have used in this project to create visibility into the climate impact of integrated solutions. We are proud to be a part of this development and hope that this type of climate calculation will become an industry standard in the future, to facilitate the transition to a net zero society,” says Valentin Monteiro.

Each component — from contactor to wall cabinet — has a climate profile that makes it possible to calculate the climate impact, both for each individual component and for the appliance cabinet as a whole. The footprint of the cabinet, over the entire life cycle of the product, is estimated at 1,650 kg of carbon dioxide. Calculated on a standard installation with 20 sockets, this will be 82.5 kg per outlet. The calculations create both an awareness of sustainability and also provide conditions for improvement.

“We are getting more and more questions about the climate impact of the automation solutions we have on the market. It is a very good sign that customers are interested in their climate footprint and want to be able to measure it. This is not something we were able to offer before, but with Schneider Electric's work to develop the climate footprint at the product level, we can now put everything together. It will help customers make informed and better decisions in the future and we are happy to be a part of making this possible,” says Mattias Forsell, project manager at BS Elcontrol.

There are several advantages to using ChargeNode's new appliance cabinet in addition to the fact that it now displays a climate footprint. The owner of the charging park receives exact data on how many people are charging and want to charge. Also, the owner of the car receives all the necessary information through the app, where it is possible to register, among other things, the planned departure and the desired charge.
Read more about how it works here.

“As an innovative company, we need to adapt to both competition and demand. Climate calculations on electric car chargers are something we know customers want. The hope is that other companies will follow suit and that it will become an industry standard. ChargeNode is just the beginning,” says Kristian Sandahl, CEO of ChargeNode.

About ChargeNode

The smart and scalable electric car charging of the future for larger car parks. Whether you are planning for a condominium association, a business, parking company, hotel or other destinations. We are involved throughout the process, from advice and installation to operation with our charging and payment service. Our platform gives you full control over your electric car charging and you control everything in our app and portal.

About BS Elcontrol

Since 1985, BS Elcontrol has designed, programmed and manufactured automatic equipment and appliance cabinets for all types of machines and plants. Today we are one of the leading operators of appliance cabinets in Sweden and Norway. Whatever industry you belong to, we are your reliable partner, guiding you right with everything from innovative ideas to installation, operation and support — so you can relax and focus on your business.

https://www.bselcontrol.se/

About Schneider Electric

Our purpose at Schneider is to empower everyone to make the most of our energy and resources that benefit development and sustainability for all. We make sure Life Is On.

We want to be your digital partner for increased sustainability and efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, connected products, governance, software and services at all levels throughout the lifecycle of homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are a global company with a strong local presence. We advocate for open standards and ecosystems alongside partners who share our passion for meaningful purpose, inclusion and action.

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