WattTime Brings Automatic Emissions Reduction To EV Drivers
WattTime is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving everyone everywhere the power to choose clean energy. Founded by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley in 2017, it is now a subsidiary of Rocky Mountain Institute. Its Automated Emissions Reduction algorithms permit utilities and electricity consumers, including EV drivers, to reduce emissions from electrical generation by shifting the timing of flexible electricity usage to avoid periods when the grid is relying on high emissions sources.
Electric vehicles and other e-mobility devices have no tailpipe emissions but that doesn’t mean they are emissions-free. Although they’re cleaner than gasoline or diesel powered vehicles — even when charged on “dirty” grids — they can be even cleaner. WattTime’s flexible Automated Emissions Reduction solution makes it possible to seamlessly charge EVs with cleaner energy and avoid dirtier energy to further reduce transportation and mobility related emissions.
In an e-mail to CleanTechnica, Christy Lewis, an analysts for WattTime, says “Most EV owners make the decision to go electric based on a few strong motivators and shrinking their carbon footprint is usually one of the top reasons. While EVs don’t visit gas stations, they’re still only as clean as the electricity they use to charge.
“We believe that EV drivers deserve the power to choose not to pollute. And because the cleanliness of the electricity coming from the grid varies drastically throughout the day, drivers need better insight into those changes to remain in control. WattTime’s software provides that insight — and acts on it automatically — so that EV drivers need not pay it another thought. Solutions like Automated Emissions Reduction are constantly assessing how clean electricity is throughout the day, and can cycle EV charging on or off in response, while still being ready to drive when the customer needs it.”
One EV charging company using the WattTime Automatic Emissions Reduction algorithm is EMotorWerks.“We are thrilled to offer the cleanest charging EVSE ever produced,” says eMotorWerks founder Valery Miftakhov. “After developing the most advanced and efficient charging solutions for electric vehicles, it was a natural progression to also develop the cleanest. EV drivers now have even greater choice and control over how they charge.”
Christy Lewis adds, “In the current status quo, once drivers plug in to charge, they lose quite a bit of power over keeping their environmental impact as low as possible. EV drivers’ options for clean charging are limited — either buy into the green power program from their utility — if it even offers one — or commit to installing solar panels on your home. For many people, these options simply don’t cut it. Whether EV drivers are not homeowners or they simply want more than renewable energy credit backed green power programs, the bottom line is that they should have a choice.
“EV drivers are essentially trading in tailpipe emissions for grid emissions, and the latter can vary greatly depending on where you live and what time of day you charge. By inserting an emissions signal into the charging process, like WattTime’s Automated Emissions Reduction software, drivers can make their clean car decision even cleaner.”
In real world testing, more than 80% of randomly selected EV drivers want to know how to opt in to the Automated Emissions Reduction program. It’s easy to do. Contact WattTime directly to find out how you can add the power of AER to your EV ownership experience.
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