Amsterdam prepares for an expected increase of electric cars in the city and the use of more locally generated renewable energy
Amsterdam is preparing together with Vattenfall, Liander and ElaadNL for an expected increase of electric cars in the city and the use of more locally generated renewable energy. Thus, Amsterdam in Flexpower Amsterdam we began with ‘flexible charging’ of electric cars: tuning electric cars to match supply and demand of sustainable power.
We want to gain insight and experience with possible new forms of contracts for a variable capacity network connection, which are also interesting to market parties and submitted (or tested by) the legislative authorities.Therefore, at public charge points operated by Vattenfall in Amsterdam, we have implemented and we are monitoring so-called flexible charging. During the day when there is a lot of sustainable energy present on the grid, cars will charge faster. During peak hours at the end of the working day when everyone goes home and puts on the electric appliances in their houses, cars charge slower to lighten traffic on the grid. At night, they can charge faster again because there will be less demand.
The design of the current electricity grid has not taken into account the arrival of electric cars. More electric cars mean an increasing demand for power. Therefore, it is necessary to test which product features the future electricity grid must meet.
We are going to adjust the charging speed to the pressure on the electricity grid. 456 charge stations match the charging of electric cars to the total demand and supply of sustainable power. Electric cars are automatically charged with more power throughout the whole day. This means they will be charged faster than normal at this time of the day. Only during peak hours (between 16.30 and 19.30), when other devices (such as devices in households) demand a lot of power, the cars are charged slower and with less power. With this method more e-drivers can use the same charge point and less public charge points are needed. By monitoring the charging data, charging cars are always full enough for the next trip during the pilot.
The pilot began with two hundred public charge stations in 2017 with two sockets each in the city center, the West, New West and South of Amsterdam. Analysis has shown that the highest power rates and most kWh are loaded here. Based on historical data, it is expected that more than 1,000 to 1,500 unique users will charge their car at these charge points.
The research started on March 1, 2017. On may 7th, administrator of the City of Amsterdam Sharon Dijksma announced the continuation of the project with 456 charging stations. The projects is a part of the plan to make Amsterdam free of fuel cars in 2030.
Partners in this project are the City of Amsterdam, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Vattenfall&Heijmans, Liander and ElaadNL.