Charging network operator ChargePoint has announced the acquisition of fleet energy management software solution provider Kisensum.
Kisensum builds software solutions that bring intelligence to complex integrations of electric vehicle charging with the grid and the integration of distributed energy resources when the situation demands more than just a plug-and-play appliance. In a nutshell, its devices and solutions help electric vehicles and distributed renewables to play nice with the grid.
Its solutions aren’t just one-off hacks, but rather, they have been certified with multiple independent system operators (ISOs) and used in some crazy complex applications, like Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Laboratory. Kisensum has multiple projects in-flight at the lab, where the Kisensum team is developing software to ensure the health of the transformers that are pushing through power for Stanford’s new electric buses.
The acquisition of Kisensum shows that ChargePoint has its finger on the pulse of electric vehicle adoption rates and is adjusting its focus to include fleets. A Bloomberg New Energy Finance report from earlier this year estimated that 84% of transit bus sales would be fully electric buses by 2030, indicating that the increased interest in electric buses is likely to continue for the next few decades. With their similar usage profiles, drayage, short-haul and regional trucks will likely follow suit as alternatives make their way to the market.
“The Kisensum team has built the most versatile fleet and energy management software platform in the industry, with a collection of customers that represent some of the most forward-thinking companies preparing for the electrification of transportation.” Simon Lonsdale, Chief Strategy Officer at ChargePoint, shared. “Bringing Kisensum into the ChargePoint team broadens our portfolio and enables our team to offer solutions for a wide array of challenges facing fleet operators as they prepare for the future of mobility.”
Contrasted with private vehicles, fleets are centrally managed by fleet managers who are accustomed to centralized tools that help them manage everything about their fleet. These solutions are critical for ensuring on-time deliveries to customers, managing distributed workforces and, of course, for financial analysis. ChargePoint plans to integrate Kisensum’s expertise into its fleet energy solution into what it believes will be the first fully integrated fleet offering with the capability for energy and charger management, with integrations into its existing vehicle telematics and fleet scheduling platforms.
Electrifying fleets doesn’t change everything about how fleets are managed, but it does change a large chunk of the work fleet managers traditionally do. Expense analysis shifts from fuel cost analysis and forecasting to energy management including new assets like in-vehicle batteries, vehicle chargers, stationary energy storage and electricity prices. The new predictive capabilities that Kisensum has demonstrated mastery in enable forecasting of future use, allowing for cost reductions and more effective utilization of fleet assets.
For more information, visit the ChargePoint fleet energy solutions page.
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