Product Feature Overview – Battery Queuing

Battery Queuing – What is it?

Battery Queuing (BQ) is an optional licenced feature for Enatel’s Ecocharge charger range that allows a group of chargers to operate as a battery queuing system.

The battery queuing feature has the following benefits:

• Optimisation: Select the optimal battery to return to service using the charger and battery module’s intimate knowledge of the battery’s status.
• Simplicity: Battery queuing requires no additional hardware beyond the G3 chargers themselves and a network to allow the chargers to communicate with each other.
• Clarity: Battery queuing communicates the next battery to the operator through the front panel indicator and display, and optionally through external indicator lights and sounders.
• Reporting and Monitoring: Logs the adherence to the battery queuing system, allowing site practices to be monitored and improved.

How it Works

A battery queuing group is created when one charger is configured as a group controller, which sets the name of the group.  Other chargers on the same network can then join this group as participants.  Chargers can connect to a network using both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and multiple groups can coexist on a single network.  This network does not need to be specifically reserved for G3 chargers, or for the purpose of battery queuing.

 

The group controller charger is able to consider the status of its own battery as well as those connected to chargers participating in the queue.  It determines which battery is most suitable for use based on one of two prioritisation methods:

• Longest Charge Time
  The battery which has been in the complete state (charge completed, still connected to charger) the longest is selected. If no batteries are in the complete state, the battery which has spent the longest time in the finishing charge state is selected.  If no batteries are in the finishing stage, the battery which has spent the longest time in the bulk charge state is selected.
  This method works best in battery change sites, where batteries are connected fully discharged and are fully charged before being returned to service.  No battery modules are needed for this method.
• Highest State of Charge
  The battery which has been in the complete state (charge completed, still connected to charger) the longest is selected. If no batteries are in the complete state, the battery with the highest state of charge is selected.
  This method works in any site where battery modules are fitted to batteries.  It is particularly suitable in opportunity charge sites, where the most recently connected battery is not necessarily the battery with the lowest state of charge.

Operator Indicators – Next Battery for Return to Service

The group indicates which battery is selected for return to service next as follows.

Group controller charger behaviour:

• Name of charger connected to next battery is shown on display.

Charger connected to selected battery behaviour:

• Screen with Next Battery and predominantly green colour shown on display.
• Indicator alternates between normal behaviour and solid white (a colour used only by the BQ feature).
• Optional external dome light is lit green.

Operator Indicators – Wrong Battery Taken

The group indicates when the wrong battery is taken as follows.

Group controller charger behaviour:

• Internal alarm buzzer
• Optional external dome light is lit red and buzzer sounds.

Charger connected to selected battery behaviour:

• Screen with Wrong Battery and predominantly red colour shown on display.

 

The optional external alarm buzzer is louder than the standard buzzer fitted to all G3 chargers.

To learn more about battery queuing or our G3 range of chargers please contact the Motive Power team.