How can we achieve an optimum in Smart Charging? That’s is the main question that a group of research centers, car companies and ElaadNL are trying to answer within the Global Grid Integration Project (GGIP). This transatlantic partnership will research and test the various ways of communication between the grid, charging stations, energy management systems and electric cars. On the 20th of march the participants came together at the ElaadNL HQ in Arnhem to discuss their viewpoints and share their knowledge.
Smart Charging is the collective term for a variety of techniques, protocols and adjusted infrastructure to optimize and balance the electricity grid in case of large amounts of electric vehicles charging at the same time. Furthermore, it provides ways to make better use of the available sustainable energy from wind and solar. In short, smart charging offers faster charging when there is an abundance of sustainable energy available, while slowing the charging speed when congestion on the grid is looming.
When choosing for Smart Charging, decisions need to be made. One of the main aspects is to determine which party in the charging process will controlling the smart part of charging. The GGIP recognizes three ‘routes’:
– Smart Charging via the Charging Station.
– Smart Charging via telematics; the car company sends information to the car which the car shares with the charging
– Smart Charging via a home Energy Management System.
OEM: Car manufacturer industry (original equipment manufacturer) EMS: Energy management system Utility: DSO CSO: Charging Station operator CS: Charging Station EMSP: E-Mobility Service Provider
Lonneke Driessen participates in the GGIP for ElaadNL and oversees the research: “The process of charging an electric cars involves a lot of different actors with different viewpoints. It is a new field of research. For instance: Not all cars have the same protocols for charging. It is something we need to research, discuss and to create universal standards.”
On March 20th participants from the GGIP visited the ElaadNL Testlab where the research on Smart Charging is taking place. GGIP aims at the way we can get these different routes together. How will it work in practice? ElaadNL tests this at our Testlab. We are presenting real-life scenarios to the systems. In previous years, ElaadNL focused on Route #1, using the charging infrastructure to exchange Smart Charging information. In 2018 ElaadNL added the EV to this Smart Charging topology by implementing and testing ISO 15118. In 2019 ElaadNL will test two additional Smart Charging Topologies, the ‘Telematics Route’ (#2) and the ‘EMS Route (#3) as part of the Global Grid Integration Project (GGIP).
ElaadNL research indicates that all types of Smart Charging – whether it is based on energy prices, capacity pricing or direct control – can have a positive effect on load balancing the grid.
The GGIP consists of the following participants: Audi, BMW, FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Porsche, General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, Daimler, Siemens, IOTECHA, PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) and ElaadNL, together with the Joint Research Center at Ispra & Petten (JRC) of the European Commission & the Argonne National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy (DoE).