Game-Changer: Newcastle FC's team coach gets a power upgrade
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Coach travel, once considered a traditional mode of transportation, is undergoing a significant transformation.
The luxury coach market is experiencing steady growth, with a rising demand for premium travel experiences. Luxury coaches are becoming mobile entertainment and workspaces, demanding consistent and clean power.
Satisfying the hunger for additional onboard power
AD Coach Systems, based in Staffordshire offers bespoke coach design services and has become nationally recognised as one of the market leaders in the UK Coach Industry. With 50 years in the industry, their reputation has been built on recommendations, and they are renowned for their innovation and workmanship.
Luxury Coaches now use batteries to replace the need for generators, providing customers with a quieter, more environmentally friendly and cost-effective power solution. Customers can experience extensive off-grid power with no need to take up additional space from the interior.
As modern travel expectations evolve, so do the onboard power requirements for luxury coaches. AD Coaches encountered this firsthand when tasked with upgrading Newcastle Football Club's team coach. The specific need to integrate two ovens required a significant electrical system upgrade, pushing the existing capacity beyond its limits.
The AGM batteries already in place would not have been capable of handling the large current draw of the load or providing enough capacity to run. A separate Lithium battery system would be put in place for the ovens.
With a growing need for reliable onboard power for amenities like entertainment systems, climate control, and connectivity, lithium batteries can play a crucial role. Lithium batteries were chosen for their high energy density, lightweight design, and long cycle life.
For further reading, visit Lithium Power Systems.
Beyond the pitch: Powering a premium travel experience
The Newcastle FC team coach is used for matchday travel and corporate events. To meet the demanding power requirements, Energy Solutions designed and implemented a comprehensive system built for reliability and performance. This system addresses the need for consistent power for onboard amenities such as cooking equipment, refrigeration, entertainment systems, and lighting.
“We would like to thank the Energy Solutions team for their professional guidance, knowledge, and advice, helping us to develop a bespoke coach inverter and lithium battery system.”
Smart Power Solutions: Combining lithium, inverters, and solar
Working closely with AD Coach Systems, these are the key components implemented, and we have shared their benefits:
x4 24V 200AH NG Lithium Batteries (approx. 20kWh Nominal Capacity):
Lithium batteries were chosen for their high energy density, lightweight design, and long cycle life. This provides a substantial 20kWh of usable power, ensuring ample energy for all onboard systems.
Compared to traditional lead-acid batteries, lithium offers faster charging and discharging, crucial for meeting the coach's dynamic power needs.
Lynx NG BMS (Battery Management System):
The BMS is essential for managing the lithium battery bank. It provides vital protection against overcharging, over-discharging, and temperature extremes, ensuring the batteries' safety and longevity. It also balances the cells within the battery bank, maximising performance and extending the overall lifespan.
x4 Victron 24V 8kVa Quattro Units (Parallel Configuration):
These inverter/chargers serve as the system's heart, converting the 24V DC battery power into 230V AC for onboard appliances.
Running them in parallel doubles the power output, providing a robust 16kVa capacity. This is essential for handling high-power loads like cooking equipment and multiple appliances simultaneously. The Quattro units also provide excellent charging capability when shore power or generator power is available.
Victron Cerbo GX (Remote Monitoring and Data):
The Cerbo GX acts as a central control and monitoring hub. It provides real-time data on the system's performance, including battery state of charge, power consumption, and charging status. Remote monitoring capabilities allow for proactive maintenance and troubleshooting, ensuring the system operates optimally.
x2 Victron Orion BuckBoost DC-DC Converters:
These converters enable efficient charging of the lithium battery bank from the coach's four alternators. They provide a stable and regulated charging voltage, even when the alternators' output fluctuates. This ensures the batteries are replenished quickly while the coach is in transit.
x2 Semi-Flexible Solar Panels and Victron MPPT Charge Controller:
The solar panels provide a supplementary power source, harnessing solar energy to charge the batteries. The MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller maximises the efficiency of the solar panels, ensuring optimal energy capture. This helps to reduce reliance on alternators or shore power, especially during daylight hours.
In summary, this system was designed to provide a dependable, efficient, and versatile power solution for the Newcastle FC team coach. The combination of high-capacity lithium batteries, powerful inverter/chargers, intelligent monitoring, and multiple charging sources ensures that the coach's onboard systems are always powered, regardless of location or conditions.
AD Coach Systems owner Carolyn Rogers was certainly impressed by how the upgraded system delivered consistent power. “We would like to thank the Energy Solutions team for their professional guidance, knowledge, and advice, helping us to develop a bespoke coach inverter and lithium battery system.”
A Journey Forward: Advancing onboard power systems
The Global Coaches Market forecast report 2024-2030 by Research and Markets (via Global News Wire) predicts significant growth, driven by advancements in coach design. This includes the integration of smart and AI features, alongside the increasing availability of fuel-efficient, luxurious, and customised coaches.
Coach travel is poised for a significant transformation, prioritising comfort, and convenience to rival high-end airlines and railways. This evolution will elevate the passenger experience, making it an increasingly compelling choice for discerning travellers, including football teams and their fans!
Are lithium batteries the future for onboard power?
Lithium batteries have emerged as a game-changing solution for powering vehicles and providing reliable onboard power. Their exceptional energy density, extended lifespan, and superior charge/discharge efficiency make them an increasingly attractive choice for a wide range of vehicle applications, from electric cars and recreational vehicles to marine vessels and off-grid power systems.
Discover more on Victron Energy
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