Greentech Lead America: IBM announced partnership with
Green eMotion to simplify electric vehicle (EV) charging and payment for
consumers, regardless of their location.
The operational demonstration, called the B2B Marketplace
will allow energy providers, car manufacturers, and charging point owners to
share and integrate services on one common IT platform. This will create a
network of EV charging services that are compatible regionally in Europe.
In an effort to increase electric vehicle adoption, the
B2B Marketplace demonstration allows drivers to charge their vehicle and pay in
any location across borders and geographies, regardless of their energy
provider – an approach similar to international roaming for mobile phones.
This project aims to allow cross network communication
between multiple charging stations and various utility companies, in any
territory. As a result, EV drivers can travel without the worry of being too
far from an allocated charge post or one supported by their provider.
Utilities will also benefit, as the IT platform provides
interoperable standards and payment support, reducing potential management
issues with financial settlement and international conversion.
Part of the Green eMotion project, the initiative is
funded by the European Union with the goal to establish a Europe-wide
infrastructure for electric vehicles by 2015. This is part of the broader
European Recovery Plan to reduce C02 emissions by 60 percent by the year 2050.
“This marketplace will pave the way for the
electromobility mass market in Europe. It allows for open access to
charging spots throughout Europe thus making the journey with an
e-car simple and convenient,” said Heike Barlag, Siemens AG, project
coordinator Green eMotion.
Based on IBM software and IBM SmartCloud Enterprise, the
project creates a scalable open-standards environment that enables
manufacturers and service providers to link their various services according to
consumer and industry requirements.
Using analytic software, participants will also have the
insight to develop new or improved services to support more electric vehicles
as the market grows. Green eMotion partners such as Enel, SAP and Siemens
developed the required EV services.
Clay Luthy, IBMGlobal distributed energy resource leader,
said, “Our goal is to help add a new layer of intelligence to the electric
vehicle market and a new level of convenience to the driver through the Green
eMotion project. We believe the demonstration project will foster innovation
and further transformation across a larger geographical footprint.”