In Luxembourg, eCharge4Drivers partner Nexxtlab links e-mobility revolution and energy transition to make the charging experience of electric vehicles easier for users. Luxembourg is one of the ten demonstration sites of eCharge4Drivers, which ensure interoperability and replicability of the solutions and services developed as part of the project.
Many commuters have already converted to electric vehicles in Luxembourg. They usually leave their car at one of the park + ride facilities outside of the city centre and make the rest of their daily commute to their workplace by bus. Early risers leave their car well before 7.00 on such parking spaces, meaning that their car battery starts charging before sunrise.
Nexxtlab has developed a different approach that uses a smart charging system. It integrates user preferences, such as the desired range to be recharged and the anticipated duration of the stay, and a continuously updated local renewable energy forecast to optimise charging when there is more sunlight and when drivers don’t require their vehicle. As a result, the charging correlates better with the availability of locally generated electricity from renewable sources, and the charging infrastructure’s impact on the grid is reduced.
“Our demonstration is centred around the users. By explaining why their active participation is essential, they provide us the temporal flexibility to delay charging their car for the benefit of charging locally generated solar electricity,” explains Christoph Emde, Project and Business Development Manager at Nexxtlab.
To complement the aforementioned technical side of the demonstration, Nexxtlab also addresses the human dimension. The demo users may take part in a gamification approach to raise awareness of the need to adapt usage to generation, where applicable, so that an increased share of renewables can be absorbed in vehicle batteries.
Discover how it all works in the video below!