Tech Mahindra Ltd said it will partner with Ontario-based local distribution company, Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), SAP Canada and Nissan Canada for developing an Intelligent Electric Vehicle Charging System (IEVCS).
This project is sponsored by Canada’s Ministry of Energy and funded in part through the Ontario Smart Grid Fund initiative.
Tech Mahindra will focus on the development of an integrated hardware-software solution that allows utilities to gather data on both EV charging patterns and local transformer performance. Enrolling 10-15 EV users in Niagara-on-the-Lake, this project will help utilities plan for future EV impacts on the distribution system, and through an In-Home Display, will help consumers manage energy usage. The EV Charging System pilot project began in March 2015 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2016.
“We have always been a strong advocate of clean technology and our efforts are focused towards delivering a positive and actionable project that will benefit the rest of Canada and the world. It’s a huge encouragement for us to have Ontario’s support and we believe that over the next 18 months, the demonstration of the IEVCS powered by our expertise will help generate more interest from distribution companies and automobile manufacturers globally,” said Sirisha Voruganti, Head of Innovation, Tech Mahindra.
German multinational software giant SAP will be powering the project with its technology. “We’re proud to provide the Internet of Things (IoT) platform solution for this important project, and to be partnering with leaders in electric vehicle charging technology,” said Lalit Canaran, vice president, Customer Innovation and Strategic Projects, SAP. “The SAP HANA* platform and SAP* analytics solutions deliver the power and benefits of in-memory computing for real-time monitoring and analysis of sensors across critical infrastructure.”
“The potential load impact of electric vehicle charging on transformers presents both challenges and opportunities for local electricity distribution companies,” said Tim Curtis, President of Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro. “Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro is proud to host this innovative project as part of our ongoing commitment to serving the needs of our customers who are looking at using electric vehicles.”
“Nissan is the leader in electric mobility with the Nissan LEAF, the best-selling electric vehicle worldwide,” said Christian Meunier, President, Nissan Canada Inc. “We believe this project will provide a solution to further develop the electrical infrastructure adaptable to electric vehicles.”
“SDG&E is a leader in promoting electric vehicles and effectively integrating EVs into the grid, with the goal of reducing emissions in the vital transportation sector. SDG&E has more than 13,000 emissions-free EVs driving on the roads of our service territory in California. We have created special rates to encourage customers to charge EVs during off-peak hours when electricity is plentiful, thus helping to efficiently integrate vehicles onto the grid. SDG&E will bring our expertise to the project, thus encouraging EV ownership and grid integration in both California and Canada,” said Jim Avery, Chief Development Officer, San Diego Gas & Electric.