Periodic Reporting for period 1 - eCharge4Drivers (Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for improved User Experience)
Reporting period: 2020-06-01 to 2021-11-30
eCharge4Drivers aims to improve the user experience as regards the charging options and services available. Specifically, it targets to develop and demonstrate user-friendly charging stations and smart services and charging solutions including mobile charging and battery swapping stations. User-centric services such as route planner, booking, charging location planner will be developed to further improve user’s experience and fostering e-mobility growth. The sustainable development of public charging network requires the efficient location planning of the charging infrastructures in respect to the current and foreseen charging demand at local level. In this respect, eC4D aims to provide a CP location planning tool which will enable the development of a public network, in terms of location and technology mix, in urban context in a sustainable and cost-efficient way. Finally, eC4D aims to propose tariff schemes and incentives that will facilitate to promotion of e-mobility concept as well as will enable the better exploitation of the charging network under real operational conditions.
The strategic objectives of eCharge4Drivers can be summarised as follows:
•Understand the user needs and collect user requirements so that the project charging solutions and services substantially improve the user charging experience and acceptance
•Design, develop and demonstrate user-friendly and cost-efficient charging stations for passenger vehicles and LEVs
•Deploy and demonstrate innovative charging solutions for on-street residential charging for passenger vehicles (mobile charging service, charging points on lamp posts) and standardised battery swapping stations for LEVs
•Design and demonstrate smart charging strategies and systems serving diverse objectives and unlocking several business opportunities
•Enable and demonstrate interoperability of end-to-end communication and provision of enhanced information to the EV users, before, during and after a charging session
•Accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure and other charging services in a sustainable and user-centric way (decision support tools, i.e. CP location planning, new tariff schemes/incentives)
The strategic objectives of eCharge4Drivers can be summarised as follows:
•Understand the user needs and collect user requirements so that the project charging solutions and services substantially improve the user charging experience and acceptance
•Design, develop and demonstrate user-friendly and cost-efficient charging stations for passenger vehicles and LEVs
•Deploy and demonstrate innovative charging solutions for on-street residential charging for passenger vehicles (mobile charging service, charging points on lamp posts) and standardised battery swapping stations for LEVs
•Design and demonstrate smart charging strategies and systems serving diverse objectives and unlocking several business opportunities
•Enable and demonstrate interoperability of end-to-end communication and provision of enhanced information to the EV users, before, during and after a charging session
•Accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure and other charging services in a sustainable and user-centric way (decision support tools, i.e. CP location planning, new tariff schemes/incentives)
Within this reporting period, an a-priori user analysis in each demonstration area performed to understand the user’s charging preferences and needs with respect to various charging options and services. With this analysis it was possible to identify the charging needs and requirements of the local society in each demonstration area which can be varied depending on the maturity level of e-mobility in each area. The a-priori analysis comprises the on-line user survey addressed by three types of users, EV/LEVs and non-EV ones, and the field data analysis. In total, 4703 responders participated in this survey providing their view on different topics, i.e. usage, quality of experience, acceptance, economy and market, environment and society and technical performance. In parallel, the field data analysis contributed to the better understanding of EV user’s charging profiles, parking habits and mobility patterns.
The analysis of the charging needs and concerns in each demonstration area enables the identification of the business opportunities and needs at local level which guides the eC4D technologies and services to be deployed in each pilot. In this respect, the initial list of use cases and pilot mapping planned in the GA refined to better fit the pilot’s business context. For each use case, the existing pilot systems as well as the proposed eC4D technologies/services were detailed and the partners’ roles and synergies were identified.
In addition, the key findings of the a-priori user analysis were further exploited for the definition of the design framework of the eC4D. The collected user charging needs and preferences were transformed into user requirements for ensuring the user-centric orientation of the proposed eC4D services. The market analysis of the respective market services contributed to the identification of the market gaps towards EV needs and definition of the innovative functionalities to be deployed by the eC4D service and technology providers.
The definition of the design framework for the eC4D solutions provided the necessary guidelines for the development of the respective prototypes. The beta version of the eC4D services and the prototypes of the charging technologies completed and they are ready for the lab testing. The deployment of the prototypes and services in the pilot sites is progressing in respect to the planning and it will be finalised in the 2nd reporting period.
The evaluation framework for assessing the eC4D solutions has been defined. The initial list of KPIs defined for the a-priori analysis was extended to serve the needs of the a-posteriori user analysis. The quantitative and qualitative KPIs have been defined in detail at project, pilot and use case level with the expected successful outcome. The questionnaire and interview forms have been prepared to be exploited during the demonstration activities.
Finally, an overview of the tariff schemes and incentive policies to promote e-mobility concept in urban environment has been performed via interviews (in total 36). As regards the tariff structures, a high diversity in the pricing policies adopted in the demonstration areas has been identified. A generic tariffication framework is introduced which enables the implementation of different tariff policies. A regards incentive, EV and/or EVSE purchase subsidies are the most common practices.
The analysis of the charging needs and concerns in each demonstration area enables the identification of the business opportunities and needs at local level which guides the eC4D technologies and services to be deployed in each pilot. In this respect, the initial list of use cases and pilot mapping planned in the GA refined to better fit the pilot’s business context. For each use case, the existing pilot systems as well as the proposed eC4D technologies/services were detailed and the partners’ roles and synergies were identified.
In addition, the key findings of the a-priori user analysis were further exploited for the definition of the design framework of the eC4D. The collected user charging needs and preferences were transformed into user requirements for ensuring the user-centric orientation of the proposed eC4D services. The market analysis of the respective market services contributed to the identification of the market gaps towards EV needs and definition of the innovative functionalities to be deployed by the eC4D service and technology providers.
The definition of the design framework for the eC4D solutions provided the necessary guidelines for the development of the respective prototypes. The beta version of the eC4D services and the prototypes of the charging technologies completed and they are ready for the lab testing. The deployment of the prototypes and services in the pilot sites is progressing in respect to the planning and it will be finalised in the 2nd reporting period.
The evaluation framework for assessing the eC4D solutions has been defined. The initial list of KPIs defined for the a-priori analysis was extended to serve the needs of the a-posteriori user analysis. The quantitative and qualitative KPIs have been defined in detail at project, pilot and use case level with the expected successful outcome. The questionnaire and interview forms have been prepared to be exploited during the demonstration activities.
Finally, an overview of the tariff schemes and incentive policies to promote e-mobility concept in urban environment has been performed via interviews (in total 36). As regards the tariff structures, a high diversity in the pricing policies adopted in the demonstration areas has been identified. A generic tariffication framework is introduced which enables the implementation of different tariff policies. A regards incentive, EV and/or EVSE purchase subsidies are the most common practices.
The analysis of the a-priori user charging needs and preferences performed in each demonstration area provides precious insights to technology and service providers for designing the next generation of their solutions with a user-centric approach. The variety of the emobility maturity in the pilot sties is important parameter which highly affects user needs and enables e-mobility stakeholders in areas with low e-mobility maturity level to understand the projected charging needs and adapt their business plan respectively. By this way, the eC4D solutions aims to improve the wider user acceptance towards e-mobility technologies and services.
The field data collected from the charging technologies and services of the respective CPOs/eMSPs in the demonstration areas can be exploited by the e-mobility stakeholders to define new business models and strategies that are customised to the specificities of each city.
The bilateral agreements among technology and service providers at pilot site level created new business opportunities or strengthened the existing ones. By this way, the CPOs/eMSPs offer more competitive solutions, in terms of quality and cost, to their customers resulting in an increase of their market share.
The overview on tariff structures and incentives policies as well as the definition of the generic tariff formula provide guidelines to investors to define the appropriate tariff structure to ensure the sustainability of their investment. The lessons-learned and the best practices as regards the adaptation of the tariff parameters from the generalised formula in the pilot sites are important and necessary for the sustainable deployment of a public charging network and the promotion of the e-mobility concept in urban environment.
The field data collected from the charging technologies and services of the respective CPOs/eMSPs in the demonstration areas can be exploited by the e-mobility stakeholders to define new business models and strategies that are customised to the specificities of each city.
The bilateral agreements among technology and service providers at pilot site level created new business opportunities or strengthened the existing ones. By this way, the CPOs/eMSPs offer more competitive solutions, in terms of quality and cost, to their customers resulting in an increase of their market share.
The overview on tariff structures and incentives policies as well as the definition of the generic tariff formula provide guidelines to investors to define the appropriate tariff structure to ensure the sustainability of their investment. The lessons-learned and the best practices as regards the adaptation of the tariff parameters from the generalised formula in the pilot sites are important and necessary for the sustainable deployment of a public charging network and the promotion of the e-mobility concept in urban environment.