Electricity wholesale prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. On a windy and sunny day, there is too much electricity production and too little demand. As a consequence, power prices drop. On the other hand, prices can rise drastically when there is no wind or sun. The more electricity production from renewable energies, the higher these fluctuations are. The Mobility House (TMH) enables a group of Renault Zoe drivers to take advantage of these fluctuations and charge their electric car at lowest possible cost.
Until now, the drivers – 11 employees of Renault Germany in Brühl – charged their electric cars on domestic sockets at home to a standard household tariff. Since the installation of smart charging stations in the homes of these drivers operated with the technology of The Mobility House charging is fulfilled in an intelligent way. Besides reducing the charging time to one hour by installing a powerful wallbox, the biggest change for the drivers is the reduction of the electricity cost for charging.
The ideal charge plan is calculated in order to achieve the lowest possible cost to fully recharge the car.
When a driver is coming home and plugging his Renault Zoe, the vehicle is communicating its electricity need via the Renault Global Data Center to the Swarm Manager of The Mobility House, where the ideal charge plan is calculated in order to achieve the lowest possible cost to fully recharge the car. The Mobility House is then sourcing the according amount of electricity with its partner GETEC Energy at the wholesale market, no matter what time of the day. The charging of the vehicle is then switched on and off remotely and fully automated. So, Renault and The Mobility House allow their drivers for the first time to take financial advantage of a dynamic electricity tariff.
Smart charging is just the first step. Renault and The Mobility House are working on various other opportunities to reduce costs or earn money with electric vehicles in the grid. A bright future for all Renault Zero Emission vehicle drivers.