Feature #19
Updated by didi about 8 years ago
(quick draft, needs better structuring)
## h2. Abstract
Mass adoption of e-mobility could be promoted by improving the charging infrastructure.
This infrastructure can be much more decentralized and dense then it is for fossil (gas stations).
A smart and convenient billing process is needed to make that work.
In the long term, such a system could also help to stabilize the power grid / help making it renewables ready.
## h3. Stakeholders
* Users (car owners) want convenience, plenty of charging stations and competitive prices
* Contractors (those setting up a charging station) want revenue with minimal effort
* Electricity providers (those managing the power grid and feeding most of the electricity) want to increase revenue, keep customers happy and the grid stable
## h2. System description
When a contractor decides to set up a _charging point_, they are provided with the physical equipment. This will basically be cables, adapters (Europe seems to have settled in favour of the "Type 2 connector":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_2_connector) and an integrated internet connected smart meter which can also interface via NFC or Bluetooth.
This new charging point will then be added to a database (exact location, unique id, max. voltage, opening hours, ...?).
Users need to install an App and authenticate once with a billing provider.
This billing provider can be the individual electricity provider with whom there already exists a contract anyway.
Once that initial setup is in place, users can anytime easily locate charging points, e.g. via their GPS device.
On arrival, they check in with their phone and then connect the charger.
At this point, the smart meter takes over. It measures the amount of electricity supplied and provides all relevant information to a billing system.
In order to avoid interfacing and trust related frictions, the billing system is built on a trust-less blockchain platform, using a dedicated token.
The billing system transfers tokens (conforming with the pricing of the contractor) from the electricity provider of the user to the contractor.
The user is billed via the existing electricity bill. (TODO: what about individual receipts?)
The contractor can anytime trade the tokens for fiat money.
That way a user can recharge at any charging point, no matter if the contractor has the same electricity provider or if it's in a country using the same currency, being billed always via the known and trusted path of the electricity provider.
This billing system allows high degrees of flexibility (e.g. regarding pricing policy), making it possible to create market mechanisms which give users incentives to time their charging activity such that it helps the grid to be stable. In practice, this may be configurable via the App. E.g. if the car will stay connected for a longer period, the user may signal the smart meter via App that charging should take place in a cost optimal way. The smart meter can retrieve live information about the state of the local power grid and time the charging process accordingly. In future this may be extended to also support reverse charging, effectively using batteries as buffers for the grid (TODO: is that expected to become a feasible option with regard to battery wearing?).
Electricity providers could promote adoption with a "free charge" for their customers.
Existing charging stations may add support for the system (incentive needed: large user base).
The more *charging points* there are, the more attractive the system becomes for everybody.
However a partner for a kick-off reference implementation is crucial.
Some open questions:
How much is one charging station? 1000€?
Must power be payed on Tesla Destination Chargers?
## h2. Related
http://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey%20Offices/Netherlands/Latest%20thinking/PDFs/Electric-Vehicle-Report-EN_AS%20FINAL.ashx
## h2. Abstract
Mass adoption of e-mobility could be promoted by improving the charging infrastructure.
This infrastructure can be much more decentralized and dense then it is for fossil (gas stations).
A smart and convenient billing process is needed to make that work.
In the long term, such a system could also help to stabilize the power grid / help making it renewables ready.
## h3. Stakeholders
* Users (car owners) want convenience, plenty of charging stations and competitive prices
* Contractors (those setting up a charging station) want revenue with minimal effort
* Electricity providers (those managing the power grid and feeding most of the electricity) want to increase revenue, keep customers happy and the grid stable
## h2. System description
When a contractor decides to set up a _charging point_, they are provided with the physical equipment. This will basically be cables, adapters (Europe seems to have settled in favour of the "Type 2 connector":https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_2_connector) and an integrated internet connected smart meter which can also interface via NFC or Bluetooth.
This new charging point will then be added to a database (exact location, unique id, max. voltage, opening hours, ...?).
Users need to install an App and authenticate once with a billing provider.
This billing provider can be the individual electricity provider with whom there already exists a contract anyway.
Once that initial setup is in place, users can anytime easily locate charging points, e.g. via their GPS device.
On arrival, they check in with their phone and then connect the charger.
At this point, the smart meter takes over. It measures the amount of electricity supplied and provides all relevant information to a billing system.
In order to avoid interfacing and trust related frictions, the billing system is built on a trust-less blockchain platform, using a dedicated token.
The billing system transfers tokens (conforming with the pricing of the contractor) from the electricity provider of the user to the contractor.
The user is billed via the existing electricity bill. (TODO: what about individual receipts?)
The contractor can anytime trade the tokens for fiat money.
That way a user can recharge at any charging point, no matter if the contractor has the same electricity provider or if it's in a country using the same currency, being billed always via the known and trusted path of the electricity provider.
This billing system allows high degrees of flexibility (e.g. regarding pricing policy), making it possible to create market mechanisms which give users incentives to time their charging activity such that it helps the grid to be stable. In practice, this may be configurable via the App. E.g. if the car will stay connected for a longer period, the user may signal the smart meter via App that charging should take place in a cost optimal way. The smart meter can retrieve live information about the state of the local power grid and time the charging process accordingly. In future this may be extended to also support reverse charging, effectively using batteries as buffers for the grid (TODO: is that expected to become a feasible option with regard to battery wearing?).
Electricity providers could promote adoption with a "free charge" for their customers.
Existing charging stations may add support for the system (incentive needed: large user base).
The more *charging points* there are, the more attractive the system becomes for everybody.
However a partner for a kick-off reference implementation is crucial.
Some open questions:
How much is one charging station? 1000€?
Must power be payed on Tesla Destination Chargers?
## h2. Related
http://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey%20Offices/Netherlands/Latest%20thinking/PDFs/Electric-Vehicle-Report-EN_AS%20FINAL.ashx