PV Connect helps users to operate their forklift fleets intelligently and sustainably.

Rising electricity prices and increasingly strict environmental regulations require economical processes in intralogistics. Companies therefore need forklifts and AGVs that they can operate reliably and in an environmentally friendly manner. The cloud-based software solution Charge & Connect is Fronius Perfect Charging's answer to these challenges. With the new function, users can use the solar energy they produce themselves to charge their industrial trucks.

PV Connect is the name of the feature that combines efficient battery charging technology with Fronius photovoltaics. Instead of drawing expensive electricity from the grid, the fleet operator can use self-generated, renewable solar energy to charge their forklift fleet. The advantages: Those who use the new function reduce energy costs and at the same time make a contribution to greater sustainability in the company. "With this solution, we have also made smart charging sustainable," emphasizes Patrick Gojer, Business Unit Manager Perfect Charging. "And customers also get maximum availability of their industrial trucks and increase their competitiveness."

What is possible with the new function? Users can control their own consumption individually. PV Connect provides precise weather and PV yield forecasts for this purpose. This enables the truck operator to optimally plan and time charging with solar energy. In combination with the load-balancing charging algorithm, the user can adapt their charging processes to the availability of PV energy and determine when to use the self-generated energy. The user also reduces peak loads and is no longer so dependent on the electricity provider.

Customers can easily activate the function by connecting their Fronius charging systems to Charge & Connect, the photovoltaic system and the Fronius inverter. There are two configuration options to choose from: PV-maximum makes maximum use of the available PV energy. Exactly as many batteries are charged as the available PV power allows. PV-optimal adjusts the charging of the required batteries optimally to the available PV energy in order to increase the degree of coverage between the required power and PV power.