Con Edison tests smart grid technology for fleet charging

FedEx electric delivery vehicle

Corporate fleets can save big by going electric, but those savings can only be optimized if a company can manage its charging intelligently and minimize demand charges, potentially hefty fees that are based on a customer’s highest power usage during a month.

New York utility Con Edison, together with FedEx Express, General Electric and Columbia University, are testing a system that uses Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition smart grid technology to manage power flow to EVs and reduce the vehicle owners’ energy bill.

Researchers placed 10 GE smart charging stations at a FedEx Express facility in Manhattan, home base for 10 electric delivery vans with 80 kWh battery packs. The chargers communicate with a system that uses algorithms to predict the daily electricity needs of the building and the vehicles. The chargers can adjust the power flow to ensure that the trucks stay charged up, while keeping demand charges low.

“The number of electric vehicles on the road is growing, and that’s good for our customers and good for the environment,” said John Shipman, who manages EV programs for Con Edison. “The technology in this project helps a fleet owner get the power its customers need while saving money on electricity. In today’s competitive business world, companies that can reduce their energy costs have an edge.”

 

Source: Con Edison

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