Electromobility standards ISO 15118 is responsible for communication between the charging station and an electric vehicle, OCPP for communication between the charging station and a central charging management system. They work hand in hand – and benefit from each other.
Why do the two standards rely on each other Many charging systems use version 1.5 or 1.6 of OCPP. With ISO 15118 and the latest version of OCPP 2.0.1 in combination, the requested amount of energy is moreover sent to the charging station. This in turn forwards the information to the backend system. The two standards help make processes faster and easier for everyone. Without OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118 additional hardware or a mobile app to send information is required.
Smart charging in context The more data provided and the more accurate the data from the e-vehicles, the better the central system can make decisions. That’s exactly what smart charging is. Smart charging also helps avoid the notorious peak loads in order to save costs. In addition, vehicles are no longer charged with too little energy, other charging users do not unnecessarily block stations, and time-consuming alternatives are eliminated.
The right interface determines your daily routine You don’t have time to plan and keep track of every charging process and every preconditioning request individually? Do you think it’s too time-consuming to constantly check the charge status of your buses? You are afraid that a bus will not make its tour with its current charge? Then VDV 463 might be just the solution you’re looking for, because it is a decisive interface to remove the stress around your daily operations.
The challenge with public transport becoming increasingly electric-powered lies with overall systems that enable comprehensive data exchange. Communication between the vehicle and the charging station (ISO 15118) and between the charging station and the Charge Management System (OCPP) has already been standardized, but there has not been a uniform format for the Charge Management System and the cross-modal pre-system. With a well-defined standard for communication, companies no longer have to develop their own solutions, which have long integration times and involve a lot of effort. This is exactly what VDV 463 is about: an interface between the Charge Management System and the Pre-Systems such as the Intermodal Transport Control System (ITCS) or the Depot Management System (BMS).
How VDV 463 works
Functionality and application The above mentioned systems using this interface acquire up-to-date data, which is continuously exchanged between the systems in both directions. The interface has been developed for three different use cases.
Manage circulation and provide loading request from ITCS and BMS to Charge Management System: new request or charge request
Control loading process and transfer information about loading processes from Charge Management System to ITCS
Implement preconditioning request from Pre-System in Charge Management System and return current status
Your main advantages
Flexibility– open interface and thus no vendor lock-in
Ensure compatibility and thus simplify processes considerably
Future-proof charging management thanks to VDV-Normen Users of our charging management system MOBILEcharge benefit from the interoperability of the software to efficiently charge many electric buses. But what does that mean exactly?
Interoperability generally means that a system can work together with other systems. If the system’s interfaces are open, collaboration can work with two or more programs or systems. Thus, multiple systems can be integrated without problems of access or implementation.
Interoperability enables the integration of existing systems
At Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (rnv) for example, e-buses, as well as passenger cars, are charged at four depots with over 100 charging points. Various interfaces ensure optimal functionality: VDV 463 between charging management and depot management system (DMS) at the customer’s site and VDV 261 for communication between charging management and vehicle to control preconditioning (Interior and battery are tempered in time). Compliance with these VDV standards enables a high degree of interoperability. GoRaleigh based in the USA also controls and monitors the charging activities of the e-buses with MOBILEcharge in connection with the control centre. Changes can be made permanent so that charging can always be carried out in a cost-saving manner.
Conveniently charge and monitor e-buses Through our charging management system MOBILEcharge, all charging processes can not only be primarily controlled but also monitored in real-time. Charging with reduced amperage increases battery life while lowering overall energy demand.
Your contact person: Maximilian Haag Phone +49.7251.7240.161 maximilian.haag@carmedialab.com
For an environmentally friendly future in public transport – setting a green example! Do you know this too? You’re riding your bike to work, school or university and suddenly you notice by the smell: a diesel bus stops next to you.
Noise and odor pollution are the order of the day. Many countries are setting a good example: China, for example, has the largest share of all electric buses worldwide running thanks to subsidies, and Salzburg is relying on the zero-emission OBUS, short for “Oberleitungsbus”. Germany, for example, can point to the VHH in Hamburg or the LVB in Leipzig. In the meantime, every transport company should decide in the long term to convert to electric buses, because this process takes time. So: If you want low-congestion as well as climate-neutral local transport by 2030, you should get started now!
What are the costs of an e-bus? The purchase price for an e-bus is higher than for a conventional diesel bus, but there are still many advantages. The German Environment Ministry’s subsidy program covers up to 80 percent of the additional costs incurred compared to a diesel bus, and also up to 40 percent of the costs required for startup, such as driver training. As with electric cars, the higher cost of the investment is recouped through lower expenses in operation as well as for maintenance.
Why are e-buses so efficient? In “stop and go” operation of public transport buses, both energy and brakes are conserved. This works thanks to instantaneous full torque, which an internal combustion engine cannot provide in this way. In addition, a part of the energy is returned to the batteries during braking. Among experts, this is called “recuperation”.
How do driving and charging work on an e-bus? E-buses drive like normal diesel buses with automatic transmission. They now have a range of several hundred kilometers – so they are a real option for public transport.
Either the driver stops at a charging station and connects the bus to the charging cable or it charges wirelessly, the latter being increasingly the case. Thus, the driver does not even have to get off the bus – very convenient, in other words. There are also various concepts for flexible use: overnight charging in the depot, intermediate charging at stops, or mixed forms. This is also where the difference to the diesel bus comes in: refueling must take place more often and charging must be organized intelligently.
CarMedialab’s software is ready to do just that. MOBILEcharge enables intelligent charging.
First US company implements INIT’s electromobility solution Numerous orders from all over Europe, inquiries from across the world and now the first order from the US: The INIT Group’s electromobility solutions are in high demand. GoRaleigh, the public transport company in North Carolina’s capital Raleigh, is currently introducing the smart charge management system to efficiently and cost-effectively charge its recently launched electric bus fleet.
By utilising MOBILEcharge from INIT’s subsidiary CarMedialab, the public transport company will automate charging processes, efficiently manage power demands, align service schedules, and proactively maintain their new e-vehicles. The integration with GoRaleigh’s ITCS and planning systems will allow for real-time charging plan updates according to operational needs, ensuring vehicles are charged in an economical and efficient manner.
GoRaleigh’s electric buses will be cost-effectively charged and efficiently operated thanks to INIT’s charge management system.
Monitoring charging activities GoRaleigh will use the system to monitor and coordinate charging activities and ensure electricity limits are not exceeded. They will also be able to categorise the services a vehicle may need to perform (e.g., distinguishing between states of charge suitable for a full-day versus rush-hour assignment), so those plans can be easily implemented again in the future. Even more, GoRaleigh will benefit from reduced electricity costs and improved operational efficiency.
Getting the order from North Carolina means INIT can support yet another company in charge management and operations of an e-bus fleet. In recent times, transport providers in Leipzig (Germany), Bergen (Norway) or Deventer (the Netherlands) have relied on MOBILEcharge for effectively charging their electric vehicles.
Raleigh on their way to an emission-free fleet The comprehensive functionalities of the INIT solution align with the public transport company’s goal to transition 70% of its fleet to zero or near-zero emissions by 2023. Due to the system’s scalability, it will easily be possible to adapt it to operate a growing fleet of e-buses effectively.
To David Eatman, Assistant Director, City of Raleigh Department of Transportation, this is an important factor on their road to green mobility: “Our partnership with INIT will allow us to intelligently manage the charging process for our e-buses, and realise cost savings through efficient load management and prioritisation according to operational needs.”
