Integrated charging management system enables intelligent integration of charging processes into the power grids

The increasing number of electric vehicles and charging points is intensifying the challenges in power grid operations management. The operating costs and the requirements for grid operation management are increasing. To prevent power grids from becoming overloaded, researchers in the ismartC transfer project have developed an individualized charging management system. The system is capable of integrating not only large charging parks, but also private households.

"People come home from work and charge their vehicles at around the same time after work. The result is that the power grids are overloaded," said Saman Amanpour, co-founder in the project and future CEO. "Our process allows us to adjust charging times so that they can be automated and distributed over the evening, night or early morning, for example."

The Integrated Smart Charging (ISC) system provides the flexibility needed to safely operate power grids, reduce electricity purchase costs by up to 50 percent without limiting the mobility needs of electric vehicle users*. Researchers Mark Kuprat, Saman Amanpour, Mikhail Ashkerov and Bastian Garnitz are developing a high-performance IT infrastructure, a database management system, a smartphone application, and the associated interfaces and server environments.

The ismartC project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as part of the EXIST research transfer program (EFT) with 700,000 euros. The project is located at the BTU Chair of Energy distribution and high voltage engineering for the duration from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022 and is supervised by the Project Management Jülich (PTJ).

The founded company ePHANT is a spin-off of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, which transfers the long-standing research work in the field of grid-serving and electricity market-based integration of charging processes of electric vehicles into a commercial product. The spin-off emerged from the EXIST research transfer project Integrated Smart Charging (ISC). The founders Mark Kuprat, Saman Amanpour, Mikhail Ashkerov and Bastian Garnitz plan to launch the ePHANT Mobility Solutions in early 2023.