DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS
– from offices , malls , and gyms to road-side charge points between cities . In fact , there are now 2.3 million charging stations worldwide .”
Crucial for addressing urban challenges , the Internet of Things ( IoT ) plays a pivotal role in the success of smart infrastructure and cities , from water and electricity , traffic flow and parking .
And , thanks in part to IoT solutions , the EV charging industry is accelerating and being reshaped , bringing the next wave of innovation to the market .
IoT is creating intuitive connections to the grid With the boom in EVs comes a rising strain on every city ’ s electricity grid . As Asmussen describes , all those cars need power and all those cars take time to charge . “ Of course , thousands of new vehicles charging at the same time increases the load on electricity distribution networks , especially as they all tend to charge at night ,” he says .
When cities reach 50 % EV ownership , as many are planning to do , night-time charging could lead to a 25 % surge on the grid . For power grids to remain stable , this must be managed carefully .
“ IoT software connects with charge plugs and the EV driver ’ s apps , so CPOs can start to manage and predict charging activity ,” Asmussen explains . “ Energy suppliers can use this data to manage their output . This way , data-driven operation of both infrastructures enables CPOs to effectively manage the demand on the grid and ensure that all charging activity remains within capacity .
“ Interestingly , IoT charging is also helping EV car manufacturers on the journey to vehicle-to-grid ( V2X ) charging . Here , energy flows bi-directionally from the EV to the grid and back . This enables EVs to hold energy and push it back to the grid when needed to manage spikes in electricity demand . An IoT software would manage this activity , not only ensuring that drivers have
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