A recent 18-month-long research partnership between Siemens Energy Management Division and Duke Energy, created with the intent of reducing EV charging technology costs, has borne fruit, according to a new press release.
The two companies recently demonstrated the results of the collaboration at the Duke Energy Envision Center in Erlanger, Kentucky — utilizing a Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid electric car, Siemens demonstrated the first residential electric vehicle supply equipment (first approved by the Underwriters Laboratories) that shows the capacity to “monitor status, report energy use, and be controlled locally from the local area network and from the cloud.”
During the demonstration, Siemens’ residential electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) was demonstrated to be accessible by internet via computers, tablets, and smartphones — thereby showing that EV owners can easily monitor the status of their charging, schedule future charging-events, and monitor the cost of charging as well as the total kilowatt-hours consumed.
Utilizing this technology, owners can thereby more easily take advantage of differing charge rates at different times of the day. And utility companies can utilize the technology to “offer programs that help manage the time and level of EV charging across the grid to increase grid reliability and efficiency while minimizing peak demand.”
“This demonstration marks a turning point for the EV industry and proves the tangible benefits of bringing advanced EVSE technologies into the home and the power marketplace,” stated Barry Powell, head of Siemens Low Voltage & Products. “Intelligence in EV charging stations means homeowners can reduce the cost of charging up to 60% by automatically charging during low energy rate periods, where such programs are available. Utilities can shift loads off critical peak periods to avoid the need for new generation sources.”
The recently demonstrated charging station also possesses a new, apparently unique, industry standard interface designed with the specific intent of allowing appliances to work with utility demand response programs. The connection is based on the relatively new CEA-2045 modular communications interface standard — introduced just last year, in February 2013.
The new Siemens EV-charging station technology used in the demonstration is expected to be made available to the general public next year.
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