Roadchef has become the first series production customer for Allye Energy, a clean-tech start-up specialising in smart battery technology.
The motorway service operator will receive two MAX BESS units for installation at two of its major grid-constrained locations in May and June, with more details to follow.
This strategic deployment, scheduled ahead of the summer holidays, aims to alleviate constraints and enhance energy management across its sites, while catering to the growing demand for EV charging stations.
This move further validates Allye’s business model as it continues to scale up. In April, Allye announced a collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to create a bespoke MAX mobile battery energy storage unit using batteries from Range Rover Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). The company has now completed its fourth and final pre-production MAX, incorporating numerous design improvements following trials in plant hire, utilities, EV charging, and industrial applications.
Since November 2023, the MAX has been operational at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon, providing buffer storage for AeroVolt to solve grid constraints and enable electric vehicle and aircraft charging. Paul Comer, Head of EV Implementation at Roadchef, said: “This partnership marks another important step on Roadchef’s mission to make Britain’s roads safer and greener. Supporting drivers as the country transitions to net-Roadchef places great importance on zero emissions. Collaborating with innovative and forward-thinking businesses like Allye allows us to effectively invest in infrastructure and facilitate the nationwide transition to EVs.”
Since the completion of the first MAX BESS in June 2023, Allye has successfully carried out an extensive engineering development programme leading to numerous improvements in the integration of second-use electric vehicle battery packs. These enhancements were driven by the application of automotive process and development, ensuring that the MAX meets industry standards in performance, safety, and reliability.
Jonathan Carrier, Co-founder and CEO of Allye, said: “Our journey since June 2023 has been one of intense development, learning, and deployment. The completion of our fourth MAX BESS and our partnership with Roadchef are not just milestones but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team of Energy Hustlers.
“We are excited about supporting Roadchef to solve for grid constraints, offering the potential to lower energy costs and decarbonise operations through smart battery energy storage systems. It’s a partnership that will lead to widespread commercial adoption of the MAX as the most sustainable, affordable and innovative BESS, one that has been fully engineered, built and delivered in the UK using repurposed batteries from the UK electric vehicles.”
The UK’s electric vehicles will be delivered using repurposed batteries, according to Allye and Roadchef. Further details about their partnership and the installation of the MAX system will be announced in due course.
Allye has now completed the construction of its fourth and final MAX system, which features a host of design improvements identified during a rigorous 12-month development and testing process. This approach has significantly enhanced the system’s overall performance, safety features, manufacturing ease, and maintenance protocols.
Each generation of MAX BESS has built on the learnings from its predecessors, resulting in a high-performance and robust system that meets the expectations of major commercial and industrial customers.
