Netzdienlicher Fahrten- & Flottenmanager für Nutzfahrzeuge

AI Quick Summary

The flexEVility fleet manager for electric vehicles optimizes fleets for greater efficiency. It coordinates charging processes for e-buses and e-trucks, reducing costs and relieving strain on the grid. Through intelligent monitoring and prediction of consumption and battery charge status, the optimal charging need is determined. The smart load management utilizes off-peak times and local power generation optimally to maximize cost-effectiveness. The flexEVility PlatformStatus Quo:The nations have each set up countermeasures against climate change for well-known reasons. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the focal point. Switzerland has initiated a strategy to achieve these targets with the energy strategy 2050. To successfully decarbonise the mobility sector, each party must take part in this transition process. Based on the current market acceptance and technical maturity, battery electric vehicles are the state of the art to effectively decarbonise the mobility sector. A public transport company from Lucerne serves as an example of how this will work in practice. The transport company from Lucerne has committed to operate their fleet fully with renewable energy by 2040. However, an electrified fleet has some distinct differences, which must be considered during operation.Problem: Historically, diesel-powered buses operated throughout the day. At night, all buses were refilled at the depot. If the same pattern is followed for electric buses, the transport company from Lucerne will face high operational costs and the risk of limited non-timetable compliant operation.If the whole bus fleet is scheduled to be recharged at night, high-power connections must be installed, and high-power grid connection fees must be paid. This is an inefficient use of resources if charging is only conducted at night, as it leaves the potential of an evenly utilised charging infrastructure behind. Additionally, the limited time window mitigates the leverage of flexible tariffs. If recharging is not properly integrated into the daily operation, timetable compliant operation can be at risk through a reduced operational range or time. Integration of renewable energy resources is additionally limited if the charging window is limited to a time window at night.SolutionSolving the complex problem of a charging management for complete fleets, while taking flexible tariffs, allowable grid connection and renewable energy production into account requires a holistic approach. The modular fleet manager consists of two complementary modules: the Fleet Manager and the Charge-Load Management Platform. The aim is to minimise operation costs through leveraging flexible tariffs, while minimising the peak charging power. An optimised opportunity charging profile, enriched with the knowledge on renewable power production, increases the intake of renewable energies. Depending on the integration possibilities with the customer, these can be implemented either simultaneously or consecutively. We can provide a wide range of services, from potential analysis and operational monitoring to an active load and charge management.Technical Implementation:The flexEVility platform is the next generation of fleet management software for electrified vehicles. It is specifically designed for e-buses and commercial electric vehicles. The schedule and charge manager are a central component of the platform. It continuously monitors the energy consumption and battery charge state of each vehicle. This allows the entire charging demand of the fleet to be precisely determined. The platform adjusts the charging predictions according to the demand while minimising cost-intensive power peaks in the grid. The system considers a number of factors, including battery life, the energy needed until the next charging station, times with low tariffs, local electricity production, and the current electricity draw. Its goal is to ensure the most cost-effective electricity procurement without compromising timetable-compliant operation or battery life. The optimisation itself occurs in the cloud, enriched with real data from the operating vehicles in the field, to reflect consumption and battery state in real time. This information is aggregated across the entire fleet to efficiently manage operational charging needs.The real-time processed and optimised information is transmitted to the vehicles through the integrated charge-load management platform. The open interface design is a decisive advantage, enabling a customer-independent processing and modelling pipeline. This ensures direct connectivity to the locally available vehicles. This solution offers economic added value through a holistic view of the charging infrastructure, including network tariffs and grid connection costs.Demonstration & Market Potential – Short & Long termWe successfully demonstrated the approach with PostAuto AG. Our study of 20 e-buses showed that peak shifting with optimised charging can save 5928 CHF per month. Additionally, if we can shift 10 out of the 20 buses' charging periods towards low-tariff zones, we can achieve savings of 11,880 CHF per month, which equates to a yearly financial benefit of 213,696 CHF. Switzerland has 6,010 auto buses operated by 63 public transport organisations. Integrating 1%, or 60 buses, of the overall available vehicles into the flexEVility platform will result in a total of 641’088 CHF operational savings. Discussions with the deployment of the flexEVility platform are underway with the Verkehrsverbund Luzern (VBL) and PostAuto AG to conduct further studies and help to advance the platform to a real world application. Therefore, 1% represents a realistic short-term market. The integration of the transport provider at the early stages of development and later deployment and operation as a service will result in a low churn rate.Taking the expansion of the public transport in the further years into account, a plausible long-term goal is the security of 10% market share, leading up to 6 million CHF of savings per year. Given the challenges faced by operators of electric vehicle fleets, this approach addresses a broad application field. The presented solution is the economic integration of e-buses across a wide range of local bus operators. Moreover, delivery services, due to their commitment to specific routes and delivery time windows, show structural similarities in operation. The ability to flexibly design routes allows for the introduction of optimised delivery paths in terms of power grid draw, presenting additional economic potential. The applicability of the solution in both identical and similar contexts supports both vertical and horizontal integration. The modular and scalable approach achieves comprehensive applicability. Therefore, further expansion potential in the long term is the integration of delivery services to the platform.

Project Idea Metadata

Project Idea Name: Netzdienlicher Fahrten- & Flottenmanager für Nutzfahrzeuge
Date: 4/2/2024 11:59:54 AM
Administrators:
- Florian Kühlkamp

Project Idea Description

The flexEVility Platform

Status Quo:

The nations have each set up countermeasures against climate change for well-known reasons. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the focal point. Switzerland has initiated a strategy to achieve these targets with the energy strategy 2050. To successfully decarbonise the mobility sector, each party must take part in this transition process. Based on the current market acceptance and technical maturity, battery electric vehicles are the state of the art to effectively decarbonise the mobility sector. A public transport company from Lucerne serves as an example of how this will work in practice. The transport company from Lucerne has committed to operate their fleet fully with renewable energy by 2040. However, an electrified fleet has some distinct differences, which must be considered during operation.

Problem:

Historically, diesel-powered buses operated throughout the day. At night, all buses were refilled at the depot. If the same pattern is followed for electric buses, the transport company from Lucerne will face high operational costs and the risk of limited non-timetable compliant operation.

If the whole bus fleet is scheduled to be recharged at night, high-power connections must be installed, and high-power grid connection fees must be paid. This is an inefficient use of resources if charging is only conducted at night, as it leaves the potential of an evenly utilised charging infrastructure behind. Additionally, the limited time window mitigates the leverage of flexible tariffs. If recharging is not properly integrated into the daily operation, timetable compliant operation can be at risk through a reduced operational range or time. Integration of renewable energy resources is additionally limited if the charging window is limited to a time window at night.

Solution

Solving the complex problem of a charging management for complete fleets, while taking flexible tariffs, allowable grid connection and renewable energy production into account requires a holistic approach. The modular fleet manager consists of two complementary modules: the Fleet Manager and the Charge-Load Management Platform. The aim is to minimise operation costs through leveraging flexible tariffs, while minimising the peak charging power. An optimised opportunity charging profile, enriched with the knowledge on renewable power production, increases the intake of renewable energies. Depending on the integration possibilities with the customer, these can be implemented either simultaneously or consecutively. We can provide a wide range of services, from potential analysis and operational monitoring to an active load and charge management.

Technical Implementation:

The flexEVility platform is the next generation of fleet management software for electrified vehicles. It is specifically designed for e-buses and commercial electric vehicles. The schedule and charge manager are a central component of the platform. It continuously monitors the energy consumption and battery charge state of each vehicle. This allows the entire charging demand of the fleet to be precisely determined. The platform adjusts the charging predictions according to the demand while minimising cost-intensive power peaks in the grid. The system considers a number of factors, including battery life, the energy needed until the next charging station, times with low tariffs, local electricity production, and the current electricity draw. Its goal is to ensure the most cost-effective electricity procurement without compromising timetable-compliant operation or battery life. The optimisation itself occurs in the cloud, enriched with real data from the operating vehicles in the field, to reflect consumption and battery state in real time. This information is aggregated across the entire fleet to efficiently manage operational charging needs.

The real-time processed and optimised information is transmitted to the vehicles through the integrated charge-load management platform. The open interface design is a decisive advantage, enabling a customer-independent processing and modelling pipeline. This ensures direct connectivity to the locally available vehicles. This solution offers economic added value through a holistic view of the charging infrastructure, including network tariffs and grid connection costs.

Demonstration & Market Potential – Short & Long term

We successfully demonstrated the approach with PostAuto AG. Our study of 20 e-buses showed that peak shifting with optimised charging can save 5928 CHF per month. Additionally, if we can shift 10 out of the 20 buses' charging periods towards low-tariff zones, we can achieve savings of 11,880 CHF per month, which equates to a yearly financial benefit of 213,696 CHF. Switzerland has 6,010 auto buses operated by 63 public transport organisations. Integrating 1%, or 60 buses, of the overall available vehicles into the flexEVility platform will result in a total of 641’088 CHF operational savings. Discussions with the deployment of the flexEVility platform are underway with the Verkehrsverbund Luzern (VBL) and PostAuto AG to conduct further studies and help to advance the platform to a real world application. Therefore, 1% represents a realistic short-term market. The integration of the transport provider at the early stages of development and later deployment and operation as a service will result in a low churn rate.

Taking the expansion of the public transport in the further years into account, a plausible long-term goal is the security of 10% market share, leading up to 6 million CHF of savings per year. Given the challenges faced by operators of electric vehicle fleets, this approach addresses a broad application field. The presented solution is the economic integration of e-buses across a wide range of local bus operators. Moreover, delivery services, due to their commitment to specific routes and delivery time windows, show structural similarities in operation. The ability to flexibly design routes allows for the introduction of optimised delivery paths in terms of power grid draw, presenting additional economic potential. The applicability of the solution in both identical and similar contexts supports both vertical and horizontal integration. The modular and scalable approach achieves comprehensive applicability. Therefore, further expansion potential in the long term is the integration of delivery services to the platform.