- ChargeScape will aim to unlock the full potential of electric
vehicle (EV) technology through conveniently managed energy
services never before possible with gasoline-powered vehicles –
benefiting EV customers, electric utilities and automakers.
- BMW Group, Ford and Honda will leverage years of cross-industry
research around the Open Vehicle-Grid Integration Platform (OVGIP)
to create a single platform that will seamlessly connect electric
utilities, automakers and their interested EV customers to manage
energy usage for a broad pool of EVs.
- ChargeScape will aim to provide EV customers financial benefits
through EV-enabled grid services, as well as reduce EV customers'
personal carbon footprints while supporting grid resiliency.
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 12,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BMW Group, Ford Motor Company
and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today announced that they have
entered into an agreement to create ChargeScape, LLC, a new
equally-owned company that will create a single, cost-effective
platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested
electric vehicle customers. Benefiting both EV customers and the
electric utility industry in the U.S. and Canada, ChargeScape will unlock entirely new
value that EVs can provide to the electric grid, while enabling EV
customers to earn financial benefits through a variety of managed
charging and energy-sharing services never before possible with
traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The closing of the
transaction and subsequent formation of ChargeScape is pending
regulatory approvals, with the company expected to be operational
early next year.
ChargeScape's platform will give electric
utilities access to EV battery energy across a wide pool of
EVs.
Building on years of OVGIP cross-industry collaboration,
ChargeScape's single platform will eliminate the need for
individual integrations between each automotive brand and each
electric utility. ChargeScape's platform will give electric
utilities access to EV battery energy across a wide pool of EVs.
Participating EV customers will have the potential to earn
financial benefits by charging at "grid-friendly" times through
flexible and managed schedules. Electric vehicle customers will
also eventually have the opportunity for even more significant
impact by sharing the energy stored in their EV batteries with the
grid during times of peak demand through vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
applications.
ChargeScape will enable the smart use of plugged-in EV batteries
by securely providing energy data to electric utilities and system
operators like aggregated demand response, alignment of charging
and EV battery utilization with off-peak, low-cost hours and the
availability of high renewable energy. Due to the efficient
integration with participating automakers and the anticipation of
high levels of EV customer enrollment, these energy services are
expected to be a cost-efficient, operational benefit for electric
utilities.
Transformational Opportunity for EV Customers and Electric
Utilities
The development of this project comes at a time
when electric vehicle sales and infrastructure growth are ramping
up quickly, bringing new opportunities to address challenges for
the electric grid. More EVs on the road means increased electricity
demand on utilities to charge them. ChargeScape aims to provide
energy management services to help support grid resiliency while
looking ahead to the future of V2G capabilities that will benefit
both EV customers and electric utilities.
Additionally, ChargeScape will play a role in helping to
decarbonize the grid. The company's efforts will reduce EV
customers' personal carbon footprints by utilizing electricity that
comes from more readily available renewable energy sources, such as
wind or solar. While seamless integration between EV customers and
utilities will be key to energy management success, participating
EV customers will always remain in control of their charging and
energy decisions.
"Electric grid reliability and sustainability are the foundation
for an EV powered future," said Thomas
Ruemenapp, Vice President, Engineering, BMW of North America, LLC. "ChargeScape aims to
accelerate the expansion of smart charging and
vehicle-to-everything solutions all over the country, while
increasing customer benefits, supporting the stability of the grid
and helping to maximize renewable energy usage. We're proud to be a
founding member of ChargeScape and are looking forward to the
opportunities this collaboration will create."
"Electric vehicles are unlocking entirely new benefits for
customers that can save them money while supporting grid resiliency
and increase the use of clean, renewable energy," said Bill Crider, global head of charging and energy
services, Ford Motor Company. "ChargeScape will help accelerate the
true potential of the EV revolution by providing significant
benefits to both utilities and EV customers through smart
vehicle-to-grid services."
"As Honda seeks to achieve our global goal of carbon neutrality,
we are counting on this platform to create new value for our
customers by connecting EVs to electric utilities, strengthening
grid resources and reducing CO2 emissions," said
Jay Joseph, vice president of
Sustainability & Business Development, American Honda Motor
Co., Inc. "With automakers accelerating toward the electrified
future, we must find solutions like ChargeScape that enable all
stakeholders to work together for the good of our customers,
society and our industry by enabling greater use of renewable
energy for and from mobility."
Benefits of Working Together
ChargeScape, along with
the work done to date through OVGIP, will bring managed charging
benefits to more EV customers and can eliminate marketing and
outreach costs for utilities trying to reach their individual
customer bases. BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and American
Honda have direct, multi-channel communication with their EV
customers, solving a central problem for utilities that typically
do not know or have an easy and cost-effective way to identify the
EV customers in their service territory.
Additionally, by leveraging automaker telematics, ChargeScape
intends to provide managed charge scheduling through vehicle
connectivity without requiring Wi-Fi-enabled charging
stations. This will support the many EV customers who do not
use "smart" chargers at home, as their EVs would otherwise be
unreachable for grid services.
The three founding members welcome other automakers to join in
and fully unlock opportunities provided by ChargeScape's grid
service offerings once the company is fully operational.
BMW Group In America
BMW (US) Holding,
Corp. is the shareholder of BMW of North
America, LLC, which has been present in the United States since 1975.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in
2003. The BMW Group in the United
States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial
service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles,
including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars;
DesignWorks/USA.Inc, a strategic design consultancy based in
California; a technology office in
Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the
country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is the BMW Group global center
of competence for BMW X models and manufactures the X3, X4, X5, X6
and X7 Sports Activity Vehicles as well as the BMW XM. The BMW
Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through
networks of 349 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
centers,147 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car
dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US)
Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
(NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build
a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their
dreams. The company's Ford+ plan for growth and value
creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and
always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for
customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and
delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles,
commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected
services. The company does that through three
customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering
iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing
breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines
always-on digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro,
helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses
with vehicles and services tailored to their needs.
Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford
Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. Ford employs about 173,000 people worldwide.
More information about the company and its products and services is
available at corporate.ford.com.
About Honda's Commitment to the Environment
Honda is working toward its global goal of zero environmental
impact by 2050 through its "Triple Action to Zero" approach,
including achieving carbon neutrality for all products and
corporate activities, 100% utilization of renewable energy, and
resource circulation, utilizing 100% sustainable materials by
reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those
materials in the creation of new products. Toward this goal,
Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric
vehicles represent 100% of auto sales in the U.S. and globally by
2040.
To reduce the environmental impact of its business
operations, Honda also is offsetting CO2 emissions
from its North American manufacturing operations through long-term
virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for renewable wind and
solar power that seek to cover more than 60% of the electricity
Honda uses in North America. Honda
also promotes environmentally responsible business practices with
its suppliers and retail dealer partners across North
America. Learn more at
https://csr.honda.com/environment/na-environmental-report/.
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SOURCE Honda