Challenge
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the French government deployed a fleet of electric vans and buses to transport athletes, officials, and event materials across the city. These vehicles operated on dynamic, multi-route schedules with no fixed depot — traditional charging infrastructure couldn’t keep pace with the fluid logistics.
The organizing committee needed:
- Mobile charging that moves with the fleet — not the other way around.
- Rapid power input connection — ability to tap into available three-phase sources at different venues and checkpoints.
- Command-vehicle integration — charger and cables must fit inside or be towed by a support/command vehicle.
- Mission-critical reliability — zero tolerance for charging failures during live events.
Max Power Solution
XC Series 40kW mobile DC single-gun charger, integrated into a command vehicle
- 40kW DC output — sufficient to top up electric vans (60–100kWh batteries) during 30–60 minute dwell windows between routes.
- Command-vehicle configuration — charger secured inside a government electric support van; input cables and DC gun stored in dedicated compartments for rapid deployment.
- Flexible input options — compatible with 380–480V three-phase supplies available at venues, emergency services hubs, and temporary power distribution points across Paris.
- Sub-5-minute setup — from vehicle arrival to charging start: unroll input cable, connect to available power source, plug DC gun into vehicle. Total elapsed time: under 5 minutes.
- OCPP 1.6J remote monitoring — central operations team tracked state of charge, session duration, and fault codes across all mobile units via cloud dashboard.
- Ruggedized for road use — shock-mounted internal components, vibration-tested chassis, and temperature-controlled enclosure ensured reliability during constant transit.
🔑 Operational innovation: The XC 40kW wasn't just a charger — it was a logistics enabler. By pairing the charger with a command vehicle, organizers created a "charging-as-a-service" node that could be repositioned hourly based on fleet demand. When one route finished, the support van relocated to the next checkpoint, plugging into whatever power was locally available.
Results
- Zero missed departures — all electric fleet vehicles completed their assigned routes; no athlete or material transport delayed due to charging.
- Rapid redeployment — support van relocated 3–5 times daily across Paris venues; average setup-to-charge time: 4.2 minutes.
- Grid flexibility — tapped into 12+ different power sources across the city (venue panels, generator tie-ins, temporary distro boxes) without requiring dedicated infrastructure.
- Scalable model — the same configuration was replicated for other government electric fleets during the Paralympics and subsequent Paris events.
Takeaways for Event & Emergency Fleets
- Charging must follow the mission — fixed stations are useless when vehicles are constantly moving.
- Sub-5-minute setup is non-negotiable — specify chargers with plug-and-play input and cable management designed for rapid deployment.
- Command-vehicle integration — design the charger as part of a mobile kit, not a standalone device.
- OCPP monitoring at scale — remote visibility across dispersed mobile units is essential for operational control.
➡️ See other mobile deployments: [Mobile DC Charging Guide]
➡️ Compare with fixed commercial solutions: [Commercial Charging Station Playbook]
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