With the UK aiming for a 68% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and becoming net zero by 2050, it is imperative that we invest in innovative technologies to reduce emissions from energy use, transport and buildings. Moixa’s GridShare software managed to tackle all three in the EFLES project, helping UPS take a holistic approach to decarbonising its EV fleet.
In 2020, Moixa joined forces with other thought-leading partners, such as UPS, UK Power Network Services and Cross River Partnership (CRP), to work on the EV Fleet-Centred Local Energy System (EFLES). This innovation project aimed to help UPS cut its fleet’s costs, carbon emissions, and air pollution by optimising intelligent EV fleet charging. EFLES’s goal was to deliver an AI solution that could build on UPS’s existing electrical infrastructure to reduce operational costs and unlock additional revenue streams via grid support activity.
Showing how AI can break down the barriers to electrification for global fleet operators
A few weeks ago, the team demonstrated a prototype of the EV Fleet-Centred Local Energy System (EFLES) to stakeholders at UPS’s central London package centre. The project successfully showed how AI could accelerate electrification for global fleet operators by maximising EVs’ cost and carbon savings.
Moixa’s GridShare software played a critical part in delivering the project, using AI to enable UPS to charge their vans when energy was at its cheapest and cleanest for them and enabling the site to participate in revenue-generating flexibility services that help balance the local grid.
Moreover, Moixa explored future electrification scenarios to showcase the value of GridShare. Such scenarios included further EV penetration and different energy tariffs as well as the incorporation of onsite DERs such as solar PV, ESS and shared charging infrastructure.
Supported by Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency, the pilot is ongoing and will run through late summer 2022. Its successful completion will mean that UPS will be able to use a single platform to optimise their transport and depot energy demands at the site level. Furthermore, this could incentivise other fleet operators to adopt the technology, customising it to suit their site needs. This is particularly compelling considering that 87% of five million vehicles will be electric by 2040.
“The EFLES project has provided a real-world demonstration, and its findings will enable and incentivise fleet operators to convert to electric vehicles by reducing energy costs and accessing new revenue streams while cutting carbon emissions and air pollution”, says Kieran Coughlan, Head of Strategic Advisory Services at UK Power Networks Services.
Peter Harris, Vice President of International Sustainability at UPS, also commented on the positive findings of EFLES: “UPS is deploying a fleet of electric final mile distribution vehicles as part of a global programme to decarbonise its network and reduce urban air pollution and noise. A vital part of this work is the development of smart fleet charging technology to minimise the cost of recharging the vehicles and thereby increase the rate at which they can be deployed.”
We’re thrilled to be able to contribute to this pioneering project
The future of fleets is electric, and intelligent charging is critical to take full advantage of the benefits offered by EVs and achieve net zero targets. At Moixa, we are thrilled to be supporting the energy transition by leveraging our GridShare software to optimise intelligent charging.
“EFLES is an excellent example of AI technology playing a pivotal role in the energy transition by bringing down the barriers for electrification for global fleet operators”, commented Adam Cundy, Moixa’s Senior Project Manager and one of the project’s primary stakeholders.
“GridShare software allows maximising the cost and carbon savings from EVs by optimising their management within site capacity and enabling flexibility services participation. We’re very proud of what has been achieved and want to thank our partners from UPS, UKPN Services and CRP for their great collaborative effort in building the EV Fleet-Centred Local Energy System.”