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Collaborative AI project launched to maximise EV charging efficiency

Posted: 2 April 2020 |

The project has been launched by UK Power Networks Services, Moixa, UPS, Cross River Partnership and Innovate UK in Camden, London.

Collaborative AI project launched to maximise EV efficiency

UK Power Networks Services, the power distribution company, Moixa, the smart charging specialist, UPS, the global logistics company, Cross River Partnership, the not-for-profit organisation in London, and Innovate UK have collaborated to launch the EV Fleet-Centred Local Energy Systems (EFLES) project.

The project is aimed at optimising logistics companies’ growing electric vehicle (EV) fleets and demonstrating how smart charging can incentivise large fleet operators to go electric to cut carbon emissions, air pollution and energy costs.

The project, set to begin on 1 May 2020, will reportedly show how Moixa’s GridShare artificial intelligence (AI) software can break down the barriers to electrification for global fleet operators by maximising the cost and carbon savings from EVs. GridShare will analyse data sources at UPS’ Camden depot – including energy prices, power demand and the weather – to optimise EV charging, as well as power supply and demand, in order to demonstrate how to effectively cut costs. Vehicles will then reportedly be able to charge when power is cheapest and cleanest by, for example, using onsite energy storage and solar at the most cost-effective times.

“Our ever-growing online shopping rates mean we’re delivering more things than ever before – everything from food shopping to medical supplies – and that’s having a big impact on carbon emissions and air pollution in our cities. Mitigating these impacts is a massive challenge but this project shows how with the help of the AI powered technology, like GridShare, the world’s biggest fleet operators can go electric and achieve their environmental ambitions,” said Simon Daniel, CEO of Moixa.

In addition to managing smart charging of EVs, Moixa’s GridShare software can manage onsite energy assets like solar PV and energy storage, including second life batteries from retired EVs that can unlock new value for fleets. The project will also assess how a site’s electricity demand can be flexed to balance power on the local network.

UPS will provide its expertise in fleet operation and act as a testbed to demonstrate the business case for AI-led local energy systems, aimed at providing a blueprint for other global fleet operators to follow. The Camden site will be used to develop and test the system, as well as to illustrate the business need for this solution.

Claire Thompson-Sage, Sustainable Development Coordinator at UPS, said: “We have the global expertise, smart-charging infrastructure and resources to host this first-of-a-kind testbed at our Camden facility. This project will build on our EV infrastructure technology to help develop a holistic local energy system. We are proud to spearhead such an exciting smart-grid project and look forward to taking it to the next level by making it even smarter.”

Cross River Partnership will assess how these technology solutions can deliver London’s aims to improve air quality, unlock job opportunities and deliver energy, cost and time savings for businesses.

“We are proud that London is again the location for testing new technology that supports clean growth and greener transport. This collaboration is testament to our longstanding commitment to working in partnership to deliver and share new ways of addressing the challenges we face with innovative solutions,” said Susannah Wilks, Director of Cross River Partnership.

Having implemented UPS’ smart charging solution, UK Power Networks Services will continue its partnership with the global logistics company and work with Moixa to support the installation of new local energy system software into the existing framework. The company will also develop a commercial framework that will analyse the feasibility of the solution and work in collaboration with UPS to identify technical and commercial specifications unique to the company’s Camden centre.