Smart demand vehicle charging solution
For a leading UK energy supplier
Challenge
The project required the scoping, designing, and developing a production-ready solution enabling an energy supplier to provide smart in-home vehicle charging. This solution was needed to facilitate demand management of electricity supply, particularly during peak periods, while lowering carbon generation intensity and reducing customer charging costs. The project aimed to balance the needs of the energy grid with environmental considerations and customer affordability.
Solution
The solution involved defining the hardware and embedded software architectures and developing a versatile hardware solution capable of supporting three distinct product types.
An MVP was created, along with the production of product prototypes for testing. The embedded software stack was designed and developed, incorporating sensor data processing and control algorithms.
An AI control process and a cloud interface were also implemented to manage demand effectively. Compliance with necessary standards, including CHAdeMO and safety regulations, was ensured.
To enhance functionality, system-level sensors were integrated to monitor safety-critical operations, load management, power metrics, and application layer performance.
Learnings
Our solution used AI to create ‘smart-charge’, controlling the balance of demand load across the grid. The sensing technology we integrated into the product design and hardware is key to the control system and management of grid services. We knew the potential product development pitfalls and could help the customer navigate through each stage of the development journey.
Over 75% of electric vehicles could be using smart charging by 2050*. Well over 2.8 trillion data points will be collected into 2050 to understand where electric vehicles are charging on the electricity system*.
*Source: Future Energy Scenarios – nationalgrid ESO, July 2019
Impact and Value
This project enabled us to gain new, reusable skills and methods. These skills included electronic design, software, customised device configuration, test and validation capability, and certificates. Overall, the brief was demonstrably achieved to use the design in the customers’ products.
Looking for someone to help you develop a project?
We’re a technology consulting company helping clients deliver connected devices and systems.
Related Insights
News
Consult Red boosts capability with cloud
Consult Red has added a team of cloud engineers in a move that delivers a one-stop-shop in technology and IoT development capability for clients. The […]
Case Studies
Feasibility of power management for an autonomous, in-field device
Consult Red brought experience in sensing, data communications, data compression, power management and solar charging to innovate power management capability for stand-alone devices in remote locations.