BPL Global is collaborating with Freshmile, the Hager Group, FAM Automobiles, and the University of Technology in Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM) on the Alsace Auto 2.0 project, which will provide electric cars to end-users on a subscription basis. The service is designed to optimize the impact of electric vehicle charging by aggregating the load and storage capacities of the batteries and managing their charging patterns.

The Alsace Auto 2.0 project, which promotes the benefits of electric mobility to rural commuting in the Alsace region of France, will deploy 50 electric vehicles. Connection points will be installed at home and at work for each commuter subscribing to the service. According to BPL Global, “The cost of vehicle operation will be reduced by monetizing the load and storage capacities of the batteries, lowering the monthly subscription fee for each electric vehicle. The project also aims to validate the technical and economic approach behind the electric mobility service, validating the business model.”

BPLG chief executive officer Pete Londa, says, “Freshmile and BPL Global share the same vision for the value of mass market adoption of electrical vehicles without compromising the electricity distribution grid. Innovation in electric vehicles and advances in distribution automation technology as well as Freshmile’s pioneering service offering should accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.”

The EV fleet will use BPLG’s Connected Energy smart grid solution suite to manage the distributed load and storage resources on the electrical network. Effective management of electric vehicle charging reduces the energy cost and minimizes potential disruptions to the power grid.

Arnaud Mora, Freshmile chief executive officer, notes, “Testing consumer acceptance for mobility as a service is one of the important objectives of this project. We think that the trailblazing of grid-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-grid capabilities are crucial to providing cost effective services and demonstrating the distributed virtual power plant approach. Success of the electric vehicle for the mass market is only possible by ensuring smooth integration into the electrical grid and by removing acceptance barriers for users.”

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