Cold battery technology reduces costs, emissions

Launched earlier this year, VOX Cool's cold battery technology is considered full of potential and the first partners have realized the benefits that this technology brings.

Dr. Le Xuan Khoa shares about VOX Cool's cold battery technology at a technology event - Photo: SN

In the current cold supply chain, cold storages use electricity from the grid 24/7, refrigerated trucks need to continuously turn on diesel generators during transportation, resulting in huge costs for oil and electricity, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. VOX Cool has come up with a cold battery solution to this problem.

Green solutions for cold supply chain

Dr. Le Xuan Khoa - a researcher at Oxford University - introduced: "The technological solution that VOX Cool offers includes 2 core technologies: cold batteries and an integrated IoT and AI system to reduce energy costs and cut down on large carbon emissions in cold storage and transportation".

Anh Khoa is one of three founders of VOX Cool along with Professor Malcolm McCulloch (Oxford University) and Dr. Sinh Nguyen. Professor Malcolm has built many startups, including one that was acquired by Mercedes-Benz for more than £100 million.

"I always wondered if I could do something for Vietnam from the major I studied and researched at Oxford. I asked the professor this question to get guidance," Khoa shared.

This is also the source for the two teachers and students to decide to apply for a 300,000 pound grant from the British Government to carry out a pilot project to innovate cooling technology at Ninh Chu port (Ninh Thuan province).

In January 2024, VOX Cool was born in Da Nang, the hometown of Khoa and Sinh. The name VOX Cool is explained that V stands for Vietnam, and OX is Oxford, implying "a technology originating from Oxford but developed by Vietnamese people".

VOX Cool introduces cold battery system - Photo: SN

Dr. Le Xuan Khoa (co-founder of VOX Cool)

In addition to solving cold storage and transportation problems, this solution has the potential to solve many other problems in the future, such as cooling buildings and data centers. Especially in the context of global temperatures predicted to increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius before 2030.

Cold batteries help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%

Unlike conventional batteries, cold batteries store cold. The cold storage mechanism of cold batteries can be imagined like "a cold ice cube, like putting an ice cube in water, the glass of water will be cold" as Mr. Khoa explained easily.

VOX Cool has filed patents, trademarks and industrial designs for the cold battery and is ready to deliver to customers.

This start-up entered the top 3 of the Net Zero Challenge and currently has 5 pilot partners in Vietnam, including ABA Cooltrans.

"The cold battery material is not water but a thermal energy storage system using phase change materials to ensure maintaining a temperature range to keep it cold. In particular, we use recycled, environmentally friendly materials to develop cold batteries," said Mr. Khoa about VOX Cool's technology.

When charging, the cooling system will operate to freeze the cold cells through forced air circulation. When charging is stopped, the cold cells will release the stored cooling energy for up to 72 hours.

In cold storage facilities, VOX Cool uses a ceiling-mounted cold battery system with Qualcomm Aware for monitoring and tracking, and Qualcomm Quectel SC20 as the main controller. In long-haul refrigerated vehicles, an in-vehicle cold battery with integrated IoT and AI technology will maintain the required temperature.

This solution can be applied to all types of vehicles, from conventional vehicles without refrigeration systems to fishing vessels. It also allows the refrigeration system to be turned off for up to 72 hours, turning conventional transport vehicles into green refrigerated vehicles.

Users can proactively charge the battery during off-peak hours, reducing the high electricity costs during peak hours. Depending on the customer's economic situation, the cold battery system can also be customized with the option of integrating a solar power system or other renewable energy sources instead of grid electricity.

"Installing a solar power system may increase the initial cost but help reduce costs and carbon emissions during operation," Mr. Khoa explained.

As of now, VOX Cool’s solution can reduce energy costs for cold storage by up to 45%. With refrigerated trucks, the cost savings can be up to 90% and, more importantly, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 50%.

Lack of cold supply infrastructure

Dr. Le Xuan Khoa said that the current cold supply chain depends on diesel generators for refrigerated trucks and grid electricity for the cold storage cooling system. The investment cost of refrigerated trucks and cold storage is high, the operating cost is high, and farmers or fishermen cannot afford this cost.

Meanwhile, cold storage greatly affects the quality of agricultural and aquatic products. This is the main reason why 25% of total agricultural and aquatic product output is lost, affecting people's lives.

At the same time, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe. Unusual heat waves make cold supply chains like those deployed by VOX Cool increasingly important in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring food security.

"Another request comes from investors because they also need a solution to help change investment and operating costs," said Mr. Khoa.

Selecting 20 outstanding startups for the final round of Tuoi Tre Start-up Award 2024

Tuoi Tre Start-up Award 2024 is organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper and the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, in collaboration with the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC) and the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam).

The judging panel will contact and connect with startups through the special Coffee Talk judging format. Promising startups will be honored at the gala scheduled to be held in November 2024.

The top 20 startups selected for the final round will receive financial support from the following organizations: VinaCapital, ACB Bank, Volvo, KN Group, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, An Hoa, Faslink, Ecco Golf Vietnam, Tin Nghia...

The special prize (100 million VND) from the program's advisory board is Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai - Chairman of PRO Vietnam.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cong-nghe-pin-lanh-giam-chi-phi-giam-khi-thai-20241026105446038.htm