EO Charging has announced the filing of a new technology patent that it believes will transform the smart charging of EV fleets. EO’s new ISO 15118-compliant EV chargers and software will, the company suggests, “unlock the future integration of commercial EVs into the smart grid (‘V2G’) and leverage AI and machine learning to provide both public and private fleets of cars, vans, trucks and buses with a more secure and cost-effective charging solution”.
Since its introduction in 2014, functional implementations of the ISO 15118 standard have been predominantly used by DC charge point operators. Bringing learnings from operators already using Plug&Charge-capable DC chargers across Europe, EO has harnessed the same communication technology but applied it in a fleet scenario where AC chargers are more widely utilised. EO can now perform smart AC charging on legacy fleet vehicles that are not compliant with the 15118 standard.
The new technology works by permitting a two-way exchange of information between EV and AC charging unit, removing the need for third-party telematics providers and reducing the hassle of large-scale fleet electrification. The EV charger automatically authenticates a vehicle’s ID, allowing the built-in software to assess state of charge (‘SOC’) and regulate the charge session based on the vehicle’s operational requirements and the depot’s real time energy profile.
As more businesses and governments around the world invest in fleet electrification, pressure is growing on global electricity grids to meet charging demands. EO’s patented technology will help ease this pressure, using smart grid communication (V2G) to avoid peak grid consumption hours. In turn, this will also make fleet charging more cost effective for businesses by shifting charging patterns to when electricity is at its cheapest.
A live trial of the new technology is scheduled with EO’s largest fleet customer in early 2022, for which EO has installed and manages more than 4,400 chargers in almost 70 depots, across seven countries in Europe.
