Electric Vehicles  

By developing a completely new way of using information from GPS and location data shown by GSM, the EU DATA SIM Project simulated the consequences of a massive switch to electric vehicles, and studied the impact on mobility and electricity distribution networks.

The technology behind the design of electric vehicles is ever improving and the European Union predicts that these vehicles could be in mass production by 2020. The forecasted large-scale uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) will have an impact on how we travel and on where and when we will make demands on the electrical grid.

Knowing what the knock-on effect will be once EVs are in general use is key to preparing the way for their uptake. The EU-FP7 project DATA SIM  carried out research to establish the consequences of a mass switch to EVs, in order to recommend actions to policy makers.

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Until now, researchers have used general criteria, such employment trends within a region, to map traffic flows. Road users kept diaries, logged their trips and answered questionnaires. Although helpful, this information was not totally reliable as people can be inaccurate or imprecise.

The project has developed a completely new, and highly detailed, time-space approach based on the use of vast quantities of data from GSM and GPS.

"If too many EVs are charged at the same time, is there a risk that the street lighting will go out?"

This new behavioral model can predict what would happen if we all started driving electric tomorrow.

"For example, you could compare how many people drive electric, for how long and how far, based on the current technology on the one hand, and how this evolves when technology improves, on the other," explains project coordinator, Professor Davy Janssens, based at Hasselt University in Belgium.

Working out what people are doing when they get behind the wheel, and how far they are likely to be going, also means researchers are able to establish what and where energy demands are probably going to be.

As Janssens says, "You can see whether there is a risk of energy shortages in certain zones when a given number of vehicles are being charged. For example, if too many EVs are charged at the same time, is there a risk that the street lighting will go out?"

These answers will provide useful information for policy-makers, to reinforce the network in those specific locations or to re-design the charging point locations.

One key challenge for renewable energy is its intermittency, with peaks and drops in its production. DATA SIM also studied the possibility that the EVs could be used to store the excess of generated energy in peak period, and extra energy stored in the car’s batteries can be fed back into the grid when needed (when the cars are parked).

Car sharing, car pooling, charging and driving – coordinating how we interact with our vehicles is central to making transportation greener.

"For the first time data mining, database management, complex systems, transport, energy and computer science have all come together to find practical solutions for mobility," says Janssens.

The project, which ran for three years and ended in August 2014, will continue to build on its achievements to find new solutions for the mobility market through the efficient use of large amounts of data. DATA SIM is considering the creation of two spin off companies, and plans are currently at the development stage.




SOURCE  Digital Agenda for Europe

By 33rd Square

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 Electric Vehicles  

Tackling the issue of infrastructure for electric vehicles, BMW has announced a pilot program of street light charging stations.

The global introduction and adoption of electric vehicles depends largely on the existence of supporting infrastructure, and it's clear that until there is a wide network of charging stations in place, the market for electric vehicles will not see a significant growth. While most charging stations that are currently in place have been installed by electric utility companies and public authorities, the auto industry, itself, must contribute and help develop the charging infrastructure further. German luxury car maker BMW, for one, has decided to actively join the efforts for upgrading the infrastructure and give EV owners more charging opportunities, with a relatively simple and affordable solution, that's much more cost-effective than the conventional charging stations.

"Seamless charging infrastructure is essential if we want to see more electric vehicles on the road in our cities in the future."

BMW has launched a pilot program to test its new “street light” charging stations, that rely on the existing infrastructure, instead of installation of dedicated stations. The company has developed a system called “Light and Charge” - LED street lights equipped with sockets that can charge electric cars, a solution that could help EV owners charge their cars much more easily. The two prototype street light stations combine BMW's ChargeNow EV charging stations and LED technology, and were already installed in the company's home town Munich, in front of its headquarters.

"Seamless charging infrastructure is essential if we want to see more electric vehicles on the road in our cities in the future," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, a BMW board of management member, according to Reuters.

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The Light and Charge street lights will be publicly available, and everyone who owns an electric vehicle, regardless of the model, will be able to use them, and pay for the electricity through a smartphone app. The app does more than just charge users – it can notify them when their car battery is fully charged, so they don't have to sit in their car waiting, and use that time to run errands, instead.

This solution could revolutionize the way people charge their electric cars and make the process much more convenient, which will surely make EVs more appealing to consumers, given that limited charging opportunities are one of the leading obstacles to a faster adoption of these alternative fuel vehicles.

With the introduction of this project, BMW continues to demonstrate its determination to help increase the popularity of electric vehicles, and make them a more viable alternative to conventional cars. The German manufacturer already introduced two plug-in models – the i3 five-door hatchback and the i8 two-door coupe – which have been selling relatively well, and it's one of the most serious potential competitors to Tesla in the electric vehicle market. In the meantime, BMW is trying to further develop electric vehicle technology and extend battery life, and cut charge times. Also, they have developed a software that helps EV owners find the nearest charging stations, in collaboration with Car Charging Group, a U.S. company that provides EV charging services, which can be used through BMW's ConnectedDrive navigation system.

By Jordan Perch

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “safe driving” specialist. He is a writer for DMV.com, which is a collaborative community designed to help ease the stress and annoyance of “dealing with the DMV”

 Electric Cars  

Although the Rinspeed's Budii concept car probably will never go into full production anytime soon, the electric vehicle gives us a pretty good idea of what direction the development of EVs might take in the near future.

Electric vehicle technology continues to advance pretty fast, and they are set to become commonplace in the near future, so we can expect to see more different models being introduced to market, and also at auto shows around the globe. One such model will be showcased at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, which will be held in March next year. It's Rinspeed's Budii concept, which even though is not likely to go into production anytime soon, gives us a pretty good idea of what direction the development of EVs might take in the following years.

"Autonomous driving undoubtedly offers the opportunity to drastically diminish some of the drawbacks of private transport; for example, the number of traffic accidents could drop worldwide."

It's a concept that takes electric vehicle technology to a whole new level, combining it with autonomous driving technology, which is seen as the future of transportation. The Budii, developed by the Swiss design company Rinspeed, is a self-driving all-electric car, that looks a lot like the BMW i3 from the outside, and is equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, in addition to driverless technology. The company, that unveiled the XchangE concept last year, another electric car with autonomous driving capabilities, says that the Budii is a “friendly concept”, since it is able to learn the preferences of the owner and provide an exceptionally comfortable and enjoying ride.

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The interior of the car is quite extraordinary, with a steering wheel that can change positions and can be mounted on the center console so that there is more space for passengers to sit back and relax when the autonomous driving system is turned on. Also, it's a very flexible concept, since it allows the driver to choose whether to activate the self-driving mode, or grab the wheel and control the vehicle by themselves. The Budii keeps track of all past journeys, and suggest the best route for you, or adjust the settings of different in-vehicle systems, to provide a more enjoyable ride.

What's more, it can communicate with other vehicles, in order to receive and share information about road and weather conditions, so that it can help the driver avoid road hazards and traffic jams, thus helping ease traffic congestion.

“Autonomous driving undoubtedly offers the opportunity to drastically diminish some of the drawbacks of private transport; for example, the number of traffic accidents could drop worldwide,” Rinspeed founder Frank Rinderknecht said in a statement.

The 2015 Geneva Auto Show will be held March 5 through March 15, and Rinspeed's Budii is likely to be one of the stars there.

By Jordan Perch

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “safe driving” specialist. He is a writer for DMV.com, which is a collaborative community designed to help ease the stress and annoyance of “dealing with the DMV.”