The cross-regional interlinking of transport- and energy systems, innovative account management- and fleet management systems will play a central role, as will decentralized energy- and charging management that uses stationary energy storage units for the improved integration of renewable energy resources and for the stabilization of distribution networks.

The iZEUS project on the consumer-oriented integration of electric energy networks and transportation Project is funded by the German Ministry for Economy and Transport Rüsselsheim/Stuttgart. In addition to Opel, partners include EnBW AG (consortium leader), ads-tec GmbH, Daimler AG, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, KIT, PTV Group, SAP AG and TWT GmbH Science and Innovation, along with BridgingIT GmbH and Toyota Motor Europe.

In the iZEUS project, the Ampera has a specially-designed navigation system which allows it to calculate the most efficient route based on road conditions, topography, weather, battery temperature and performance of the air-conditioning system.

The connection between mobility and sustainable energy supply has always been of key importance to Opel, so much so that we offer our customers green-energy electricity contracts for the Ampera. The iZEUS project is about bringing this experience to the development of simple and customer-oriented accounting systems for battery charging.

—Dr. Christian Kunstmann, Head of Development for Power Train Electrification at Opel

Opel is also bringing Meriva battery research vehicles to iZEUS as part of the project’s research into linking traffic and energy systems for intelligent driving. These vehicles already provided insights into bi-directional loading and integration in a smart grid in the earlier MeRegioMobil project. (Earlier post.)

The iZEUS Merivas will introduce intelligent battery charging communication based on current ISO 156118 standards as well as carrying out testing of charging communications and bi-directional energy management at the KIT’s “Energy Smart Home Lab”.

The inclusion of traffic and energy systems in forthcoming smart grid concepts will also enable the improved integration of renewable energy resources and the construction of sustainable distribution networks through decentralized energy and charging management, Opel notes. While electromobility offers real and tangible potential for the reduction of CO₂ emissions, this can only be maximized if intelligent and customer-oriented systems can be linked with current energy systems.

A key project component is therefore the development of standards for controlled charging. This should be able to take into account oscillations in energy supply counterbalanced by the appropriate customization of charging intensity which at the same time does not place restrictions on the vehicle user. The project foresees the ongoing development of accompanying legal frameworks, norms and standards established on the basis of political procedural recommendations.

Particular focus is on the consumer’s perspective on smart charging concepts that accompany the fleet tests and acceptance factors for commercial use of electric vehicles.