Kalmar has announced the "Grid-Glue" Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology for its Gloria 450 electric reach stacker. Large port terminals face massive peak demand charges from the local power grid when multiple shore cranes and reach stackers operate simultaneously. The Grid-Glue system turns the reach stacker's massive battery pack into a mobile power storage unit.
The engineering innovation is a "Bidirectional 150kW DC-DC Converter" integrated into the truck's charging station. When the reach stacker is plugged in during operator breaks, the system communicates with the terminal's energy management system via Wi-Fi. If the terminal's substation detects a peak load (e.g., a ship is being unloaded and power demand spikes), the Grid-Glue system instantly discharges power from the reach stacker's battery back into the port's microgrid, stabilizing the local voltage.
Crucially, the system features "Battery Cycle Depth Protection." The system will never discharge the battery below 40% State of Charge (SOC) during V2G operations, ensuring the truck has enough power for the next shift and preventing deep-cycle battery degradation. Furthermore, the system uses "Thermal Interlock Charging." If the battery temperature is above 45°C (from heavy lifting), the charger reduces the current and activates the truck's liquid cooling system before applying high voltage, preventing lithium plating. This smart grid interaction reduces the terminal's peak power demand costs by 22% and doubles as an emergency backup power source.
