GSE-400MP - Cost/Benefit Analysis

The eTec Minit-Charger GSE-400MP Multi-Port Fast Charge System is a fully integrated rapid battery charging system, specifically designed for airport ground support equipment (GSE) and offers significant advantages over conventional charging:

• A full day of vehicle use from one hour or less of battery charging
• Up to twenty GSE vehicles charged by a single eTec Minit-Charger GSE-400MP System in a space 8' by 18' (see Table 1)
• Peak electrical demand resulting from charging activity reduced by a factor of 10, saving wire, circuit breakers, transformers and switchgear necessary for installation and often allowing installation using existing electrical circuits (see Table 1)
• Rapid turnaround at the charger allowing GSE to be working on the tarmac 23 out of 24 hours in the day, increasing vehicle availability and eliminating the need to have a charging space for each vehicle
• Extremely low harmonic distortion and very high power quality
• Elimination of the destructive battery overcharging and gassing common with conventional chargers, resulting in a 50% savings in energy costs and greatly improved battery life
• Charging of sealed gel electrolyte and absorbed glass mat batteries, achieving true maintenance free operation (click here to download an Excel spreadsheet to perform your own cost/benefit analysis between flooded and gelled lead acid batteries)
• Charging of various battery capacities, voltages and types, eliminating the need for a new, and often different charger to be installed for each new vehicle
• Fully contained in a single temperature controlled enclosure that can be delivered pre-assembled to an installation site.

With its advanced features and over three years of actual operation at airports across the country, the eTec Minit-Charger GSE-400MP System is ideally suited to retrofit electric GSE at your airport and is the only fast charge system proven in ramp operations.

TABLE 1
CONVENTIONAL vs. FAST CHARGE
INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS & COST

Cost Element Conventional Charging Fast Charging   Number of GSE Units   Chargers Required   ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE COST   Charger Breaker Ampere Rating   Total Amperes Required   Electrical Hardware Cost/kVA (1)   Electrical Installation Cost/kVA (1)   Total Cost to Supply Ampere Requirement (2)   SPACE REQUIREMENTS   Linear Feet Required/GSE Unit   Linear Feet Required/Charger   Total Linear Feet Required 40   40   25   1000   $200   $200   $333,333   6   6   240   40   2   100   200   $200   $200   $66,667   6   24   48

(1) Assumes no spare infrastructure available such that all requirements are met with new hardware.
(2) Based on 1.2 A/kVA

The eTec Minit-Charger charging systems are the only fast charge systems using the patented eTec Minit-Charger battery charging algorithm assuring that batteries are charged as quickly as possible based on the electro-chemistry of the battery, without the destructive effects over overcharging. As the battery's ability to accept charge is affected by numerous factors including the battery type, age, operating history, temperature and initial state of charge, the eTec Minit-Charger algorithm electronically interrogates the battery at least once each second to determine its exact capability to accept charge current. With each interrogation, the charge current is adjusted by the eTec Minit-Charger algorithm based on the batteries ability to accept charge. In this way each battery, on each charge is charged as quickly as the battery is electro-chemically able to accept the charge, but not overcharged, causing destructive heating and battery dry out.

The eTec Minit-Charger GSE-400MP System is also the only fast charge system using patented sequenced operation. By sequencing the charging of vehicles, the eTec Minit-Charger charging system assures the each vehicle receives a full charge as quickly as possible, but without placing a large demand on the airport electrical system. Proven in airport operation, sequenced operation has already saved thousands of dollars in utility demand charges and electrical infrastructure installation costs.