Smarter eCar charging is coming your way
By offering everything from hassle-free charging station operation to full infrastructure management for eMobility service providers, has·to·be has been rewriting the eMobility rulebook ever since it was founded in 2013, providing one-stop solutions for the industry. At the time of writing, has·to·be manages more than 25,000 charge points, with over 6,500 charge logs every day. Now, thanks to a new partnership with Viennese power asset optimizer enspired, locations serviced by has·to·be can offer cost-optimized charging, which translates into significant savings for end users.
"As it currently stands, vehicles start charging the moment they’re connected to the charging station,“ explains has·to·be Founder and CEO Martin Klässner. "Our data shows that this usually happens in the morning or evening. But that’s generally the time of day when electricity costs the most. Since most cars are connected to the charge point for at least a few hours, the actual charging process can be moved to a time window with cheaper electricity.”
enspired to handle charging at best market prices
enspired specializes in fully automated power asset optimization in the intraday electricity market. Thanks to AI, electricity can be sold or bought at the time it’s cheapest for the customer. Aggregated charging stations provide the power grid with much-needed flexibility, and the ability to shift charging sessions allows a reducation of peak-time demand. Users are rewarded for this flexibility in the form of lower electricity prices.
"First results show that we can achieve savings of up to 40% by optimizing a charging profile – and that’s only the beginning. The vehicle owner simply defines the broad charging requirements for the session, such as latest time for the car to be fully charged. Within these parameters, we then enable charging when it makes the most economic sense.”
Jürgen MayerhoferFounder and CEO, enspired
has·to·be to look after charging station operation
While has·to·be takes care of the technical operation of the charge session and end user interface, enspired is responsible for optimizing the charging profile based on energy price dynamics and availability in the intraday market. Unlike traditional energy companies, where traders monitor up to 15 screens at the same time and then place orders either manually or using algorithms, enspired works with a fully automated platform and machine learning models. As eCar batteries become mainstream, they can also participate in a so-called virtual power plant that returns energy to the grid, unlocking not only additional profit but also a more stable electricity network.
"Due to unreliable weather forecasts, it’s often difficult to predict wind or solar energy production even five minutes before it’s due to be supplied,“ explains Mayerhofer. "Deviations need to be dealt with in real-time to avoid widespread power failures – and it’s thanks to the flexibility of other grid users that they can be offset. By joining forces with has·to·be and their big network of charging stations, we can make a valuable contribution to grid stability. This is good news not just for our clients but also for accelerating the transition towards clean energy.”
"has·to·be and enspired are setting an important example here. We’re showing how new technology can smooth the path to a sustainable future. We have plenty more planned and are looking forward to a working relationship with purpose.“Martin KlässnerFounder and CEO, has·to·be
Disclaimer: has.to.be was sold to US company ChargePoint in 2021.
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