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Ansys SaaS Cloud-Native Offered Ansys ConceptEV
Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) announced the availability of a new SaaS cloud-native offering, Ansys ConceptEV. The solution enables component and system engineers to work together on EV powertrain concept designs through a model-based approach — facilitating early design decisions for improved EV driving range and battery charge times, lower development costs, and faster time-to-market.
EV powertrains are complex systems comprised of core functional components including the battery, inverter, motor, and transmission. To develop the most efficient powertrain, the components must be designed and optimized as part of the system, not separately. A system-level design approach is crucial to increasing the driving range and efficiency of EVs while decreasing the cost.
ConceptEV is a first-of-its-kind, accessible solution capable of linking component designs to system-level requirements. Specification and component design changes are easily implemented and traceable, empowering users to rapidly evaluate and quantify system trade-offs for the optimal powertrain design. The model-based approach facilitates rapid analysis of the complete system against requirements, reducing errors, saving time and costs, and informing smarter decisions earlier in the development process.
“Ansys ConceptEV promises to be a critical advancement for the electric powertrain industry,” said John Reeve, technical director, FluxSys Ltd. “Focusing on optimizing the complete powertrain rather than individual sub-systems will increase our productivity and accelerate innovation. ConceptEV is approachable, collaborative, scalable, and will help us meet the growing demand for performant EV powertrain systems.”
“ConceptEV is flipping the script on traditional EV powertrain workflows and enabling customers to pursue a more robust, data-driven result,” said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. “The solution brings together cross-functional teams in an open environment that encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing to foster innovation. The powertrain is the heart of a vehicle’s performance, so having the right tools to optimize its design to make it lighter, more durable, and more cost-effective is critical.”
Verra Mobility Corp for Bluedot
Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, announced a partnership with all-in-one electric vehicle (EV) fleet management platform Bluedot to offer charging capabilities to fleet customers. By partnering with Bluedot, Verra Mobility now offers its fleet customers the ability to find, charge, and automatically pay for charging at over 80% of public charging stations in the United States.
WeaveGrid & Emporia Energy Partnership
WeaveGrid, a software company that enables rapid electric vehicle (EV) adoption on the electric grid, and Emporia Energy, a leading innovator in home energy management solutions, today announced a partnership to make smart EV charging more accessible by expanding access to utility managed charging programs for Emporia EV charger owners.
WeaveGrid’s intelligent software will integrate with Emporia Energy’s EV chargers, enabling seamless participation in utility-managed charging programs and grid optimization initiatives. This will provide EV drivers with Emporia chargers the following benefits:
- Cost savings: By automatically aligning charging with periods of high renewable energy availability or low grid demand, paired with time-varying utility rates, drivers can potentially reduce the charging costs on their electric bills.
- Enhanced grid reliability: WeaveGrid’s software helps to manage EV charging demand in real-time, ensuring grid stability and preventing potential strain on the electric grid distribution system.
- Charging insights: Compared to monthly utility bills, drivers see additional information about their charging patterns and costs through a weekly wrap-up of charging history.
WeaveGrid and Emporia will soon launch the partnership in select utility managed charging programs administered by WeaveGrid.
“We are thrilled to partner with Emporia Energy to make smart EV charging more accessible and affordable for all types of EV drivers,” said Yakov Berenshteyn, Director of Automotive and Charging Partnerships at WeaveGrid. “Emporia’s commitment to clean energy aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation.”
“This partnership is a significant step forward in simplifying the EV charging experience for EV drivers and Emporia charger owners,” said Shawn McLaughlin, CEO of Emporia Energy. “By combining Emporia’s reliable EV chargers with WeaveGrid’s intelligent software, we are empowering drivers to save money, contribute to a cleaner grid, and enjoy the convenience of smart charging.”
Emporia chargers are one of the top selling EV Chargers in North America. The Emporia smart charger is priced highly competitively, starting at $399, with options to include Emporia Vue Energy Monitors and Home Energy Management System. It is available in both J1772 and NACS configurations, making it compatible with all EV makes and models, allowing for expanded access to utility incentives.
CSI Reduces CATL Battery Packs
Coulomb Solutions Inc. (CSI), announced new, even greater price reductions on its highly dependable CATL battery packs effective immediately, for customers placing large volume orders. CSI is again passing on lower battery prices due to lithium cost reductions enabled by its volume purchasing power and locked in costs for the remainder of 2024.
The CSI battery packs come in a wide range of off-the-shelf configurations allowing for them to be used in commercial vehicles and battery energy storage system (BESS) applications. CSI has a highly capable team of engineers and integration experts to help customers match their energy and voltage requirements and configure the world’s most reliable battery systems for customer applications from 22 kWh up to 3.5 MWh. CSI also offers a complete suite of best-in-class accessory components and plug-and-play software to make for seamless integration into end-user platforms.
“We are very excited to offer US commercial vehicle and BESS customers additional pricing discounts to help our OEM customers meet TCO goals,” said David Mazaika – CEO of Coulomb Solutions Inc. “For customers placing larger orders between now and the end of the year, the savings can be in the millions of dollars. Once again, CSI strives to accelerate commercial vehicle electrification by offering our customers the world’s most innovative and reliable products in the industry at wholesale prices.”
Ascend Elements Ships
In a milestone for the U.S. battery materials industry, Ascend Elements recently shipped decarbonized cathode materials to Freudenberg e-Power Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of emissions-neutral energy solutions for heavy-duty applications. The shipment is notable as one of North America’s first deliveries of engineered cathode materials for a specific battery application as part of a commercial vehicle validation and launch process. Cathode materials made from recycled battery metals can help EV battery manufacturers qualify for U.S. tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
“Battery manufacturers in the United States are starting to use engineered battery materials that are made in America from recycled metals,” said Eric Gratz, Ph.D., CTO and Co-founder of Ascend Elements. “Engineered cathode material is normally made in Asia using material from mined sources. Now we’re making it domestically from recycled EV batteries and production scrap while generating just half the carbon footprint.”
Ascend Elements uses a patented process known as Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis to manufacture NMC pCAM and CAM from used lithium-ion batteries and battery manufacturing scrap. The closed-loop process eliminates up to 15 intermediary steps in the traditional cathode manufacturing process and provides significant economic and carbon-reduction benefits. A recent life cycle assessment conducted by an independent third-party found Ascend Elements’ Hydro-to-Cathode® process produces EV battery cathode material at a 49% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional cathode manufacturing processes. By 2030, the company aims to achieve a 90% reduction in carbon footprint for its decarbonized cathode products.
Since cathode material is the single largest contributor to a lithium-ion battery cell’s carbon footprint, Ascend Elements’ low-carbon cathode material will have a dramatic impact on Freudenberg e-Power Systems’ batteries.
The shipment of pCAM material was engineered and manufactured at the Ascend Elements pilot facility in Westborough, Mass. The materials will be sintered and finished as CAM at the Ascend Elements location in Novi, Mich. before shipment to Freudenberg e-Power Systems at the XALT Energy plant in Midland, Mich.
“This is a relatively small shipment in relation to the intended full-scale commercial program, but it’s an important milestone for Ascend Elements and the U.S. battery materials industry,” Gratz said.
Freudenberg e-Power Systems is proving to be a pioneer in the lithium-ion battery industry. Ascend Elements’ engineers worked closely with Freudenberg e-Power Systems for over a year to engineer and manufacture the low-carbon cathode material to particularly high-performance requirements for lifetime, charge time, and safety.
“We’re very proud to be one of the first to use recycled sources for our cathode material that powers buses and trucks across the country. The partnership with Ascend Elements underscores our ambitions not only to lower the carbon footprint for our customers but also in our own supply chain and materials,” said Lisa McKenzie, President and General Manager of Battery Systems at Freudenberg e-Power Systems.
Several peer-reviewed studies have shown Ascend Elements’ recycled battery materials perform as well as similar materials made from virgin (or mined) sources. In fact, Freudenberg tested Ascend Elements’ customized cathode product extensively and found it to have truly exceptional cycle-life results while achieving best-in-class safety.
While this shipment of material was made in Massachusetts and finished in Michigan, Ascend Elements continues building a $1 billion advanced manufacturing campus in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Scheduled to begin operations in early 2025, the 1-million-square-foot Apex 1 facility will eventually produce enough pCAM and CAM for 750,000 EVs per year.
In addition to the CAM deal with Freudenberg, Ascend Elements landed a $1 billion contract to manufacture sustainable pCAM for a major U.S.-based company in June 2023. Commercial-scale shipments of material to the undisclosed customer will begin in Q1 2025.
Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, Ascend Elements is a leading provider of sustainable, closed-loop battery material solutions. From EV battery recycling to commercial-scale production of lithium carbonate and NMC precursor (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM), Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of sustainable lithium-ion battery materials.
Piedmont Lithium New Results
Piedmont Lithium (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PLL; ASX: PLL), a leading North American supplier of lithium products critical to the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain, announced that additional high-grade drill results at North American Lithium (“NAL”) in Quebec continue to demonstrate the potential for a significant upgrade to the mineral resource estimate. These new drill results follow similar assay results released in May 2024.
The 2023-2024 drill program has identified multiple, new, high-grade lithium zones beyond the planned pit shell model, with intercepts at thicker and higher grades than previously encountered. Mineralization within the pit shell model has shown continuity and consistency in grade and thickness. An additional 30,000 meters of exploration drilling at NAL is planned for 2024.
NAL is the largest lithium operation in North America and is jointly owned by Piedmont (25%) and Sayona Mining Limited (75%). The operation has continued to achieve quarterly record spodumene concentrate volumes since restarting production in March 2023 and is targeting steady-state production in H2 2024.
“The latest drill results underscore the importance of North American Lithium as the only lithium mine in North America producing IRA-compliant spodumene concentrate,” said Keith Phillips, President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Lithium. “The continued positive results of the NAL drill program demonstrate the potential of this highly strategic asset, and we look forward to a future update to the mineral resource estimate both in terms of mineral resource quantity and classification.”
Electrca Vehicles EVE-Ai Mods
Electra Vehicles, Inc. is thrilled to announce the world premiere of our in-vehicle demonstration of EVE-Ai (Range Expert and Fleet Analytics modules), our cutting-edge AI technology designed to revolutionize battery performance management, eliminate range anxiety, and support the expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) industry. At MOVE 2024, we will showcase EVE-Ai’s capabilities, leveraging advanced AI algorithms to provide real-time, personalized insights, predictive maintenance, and enhanced battery safety, benefiting EV drivers, OEMs, and fleet managers.
Addressing Range Anxiety
Most electric vehicle users (54%1) worry about unreliable battery ranges, leading to range anxiety. With an average error rate of 10%2 in range estimation, it’s clear why this is a significant barrier to EV adoption. Electra’s Range Expert, showcased in a Fiat 500e, addresses this issue by achieving an error rate of less than 1%—a 100% improvement over the average error. We collect and integrate information from external sources (traffic, road conditions, and weather), internal battery data (temperature and degradation), and users’ driving styles, providing a customized experience for every driver. Our ML-based AI algorithm processes all this data through the cloud, delivering outputs on the vehicle screen such as target energy remaining at the destination, precise trip energy consumption, precise ETA, and battery health status. This enhanced accuracy improves trip and charging planning, boosts trust in EVs, and can increase sales by up to 10% for OEMs who are currently losing customers to range anxiety.
Empowering Fleet Managers
Fleet managers are beginning to electrify their fleets but face significant challenges due to a lack of tools for gaining insights into the health of their EVs. In fact, 55% of fleet managers are concerned about EVs’ maintenance, security, replacement, and lifespan. Considering that an EV battery accounts for one-third of a car’s total value1, monitoring and assessing its health is crucial. Our technology addresses these concerns by empowering fleet managers with advanced alerts when an EV fleet battery is at risk of failure or needs maintenance—up to three months in advance. Using our sophisticated algorithm, we monitor and analyze data from both internal and external environments. Electra can transform any EV fleet with enhanced battery performance and reliability. Our AI-driven technology gives fleet managers improved visibility into each vehicle and overall fleet health trends. By optimizing battery usage, and predicting failures and maintenance needs up to three months in advance, Electra enables proactive maintenance strategies, minimizes risks, and reduces costs, helping fleet managers scale their operations effectively.
Empowering EV Drivers
EVE-Ai Range Expert module is dedicated to enhancing the driving experience by keeping drivers informed with personalized information. Our technology provides:
- Real-Time Customized Insights: we offer precise energy estimates to help drivers reach their destinations efficiently and charge when necessary to save time and prevent range anxiety. The EVE-Ai Range Expert module adapts to individual driving styles by incorporating battery and external data.
- Predictive Maintenance Strategies: Thanks to our data collection and machine learning algorithms, the EVE-Ai module can detect faults and recommend preventive maintenance up to three months in advance.
- Improved Battery Safety and Reliability: Accurate insights from EVE-Ai reduce EV maintenance costs and increase reliability and safety, extending battery life3 by up to 40%.
Supporting OEMs
EVE-Ai offers substantial benefits for OEMs, enhancing customer engagement and brand positioning by providing accurate insights and information to EV customers. Our technology:
- Improves Customer Engagement and Brand Positioning: Personalized experiences for drivers increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Increases Sales Targets: Tackling range anxiety can boost EV adoption and sales up to 10%.
- Reduces Production Costs: OEMs can save on EV production costs with additional insights and optimization capabilities.
Enhancing Fleet Management
Fleet managers gain comprehensive visibility and control over their fleets with the EVE-Ai Fleet Analytics Module, ensuring efficient operations and cost savings. Our AI technology provides:
- Accurate Fleet Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of battery state of health (SoH), state of charge (SoC), and remaining useful life (RUL) to effectively monitor, maximize, and protect assets.
- Predictive Fault Detection and Maintenance: Data collection and machine learning enable maintenance predictions up to three months in advance, reducing downtime and costs by up to 30%.
- Extended Battery Life: EVE-Ai extends battery life by up to 40%, providing significant cost savings and increased safety and reliability.
Electra Vehicles, Inc. is at the forefront of the BMS industry, dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability for a greener world. Our EVE-Ai technology represents a significant leap forward in battery performance management, ensuring that batteries can go further, last longer, and operate more efficiently than ever before.
ChargePoint Updates to beENERGISED
ChargePoint a leading provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), announced a suite of updates and additions to its be.ENERGISED platform, a leading European software solution for the management of charging networks and e-mobility services at scale.
be.ENERGISED now manages over 900 models of charging stations from more than 100 manufacturers. New features, offerings and enhancements include:
- The first payment terminal to meet the new OCPI v2.2.1 Direct Payment Module industry standards and comply with the recently instated AFIR (Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation).
- eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs) can use the solutions’ roaming network to give their drivers selected access to more than 750,000 stations across the whole of Europe. Charge Point Operators (CPOs) can easily make their stations available to the public and all drivers on the major eMSPs via be.ENERGISED COMMUNITY roaming agreements in just a few clicks of a mouse.
- In addition, the CP6000 – ChargePoint’s most flexible and serviceable global AC EV charging solution – is available from this week on the be.ENERGISED platform to select customers. The CP6000 is designed for scalability, flexibility, and reliability, offering reliable AC charging for 1 or 3 phase power at an adaptable output of 3.7 to 22kw per port.
ChargePoint’s be.ENERGISED platform boasts consolidated services for CPOs and eMSPs, including VAT handling, automated invoicing, streamlining financial operations for multinational charging providers. With over 85,000 charging ports and 30 million charging sessions per month, be.ENERGISED’s scale and experience are unparalleled in the industry. The software offers an end-to-end solution capable of addressing every aspect of the charging process, providing unmatched flexibility and modularity to cater to all use cases.
The EV charging landscape is rapidly evolving, with CPOs and eMSPs becoming far more sophisticated, often relying on many makes of chargers and hundreds of software integrations with partners. As their expertise deepens, so do their needs, transforming from initial solutions into intricate networks which require robust protection and management. This shift signifies a move from the early days of greenfield projects to the current “brownfield” environment, where existing charger investments must be futureproofed alongside the implementation of new infrastructure. Though new chargers are constantly being brought online, ensuring a reliable network requires legacy hardware running just as well as the newest installations. All of this underscores the need for a well-rounded, adaptable software solution such as be.ENERGISED.
“A new set of market demands necessitates even the most advanced charger management platforms to deliver innovative features for the future,” said Andreas Blin, Director for Service Provision at ChargePoint. “A leader in the market for more than a decade, be.ENERGISED meets the challenges charging businesses face, ensuring that both new and existing infrastructure can excel in an ever more dynamic environment.”
Since acquiring be.ENERGISED three years ago, ChargePoint has continued to foster and develop the product to ensure market leadership while delivering bespoke solutions for international customers. be.ENERGISED is now the most flexible and comprehensive solution on the market, and one built for the future without forgetting about the past.
Schneider Electric & AVEVA Efficiency
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, announced a partnership with IN-CORE Systèmes to drive efficiency in Electric Vehicle (EV) battery production.
The joint offering will connect electrode level to final cell performance and provide customers with a complete data picture to improve processes.
As the EV market continues to see exponential growth, battery production is under greater pressure to improve quality, efficiency and business outcomes. This increased production can lead to new issues, including failure modes and process variation, which in turn create operational, material and labor losses.
In recent years, EV battery production has seen up to 20 per cent of materials scrapped, and an inefficient use of energy with 47 kWh of energy needed to produce 1 kWh of an EV battery cell. These challenges can only be mitigated by greater operational insight.
The partnership between Schneider Electric, AVEVA and IN-CORE will bring greater data connectivity to the production process by addressing data traceability at the electrode level. The IN-CORE Traceability Solution will work with AVEVA System Platform to connect critical parameters to electrode manufacture, final cell, and pack performance, providing relevant data at the right time and format to ensure a complete data picture. This provides customers with positive outcomes such as:
- Faster troubleshooting of field issues
- Waste Reduction
- Production Optimization
- Materials Optimization
“Operational challenges are the greatest barrier to success in EV battery production,” said Christel Galbrun, Segment President for Mobility at Schneider Electric. “As demand grows, we must improve quality and efficiency, while reducing variation and scrap. This partnership with IN-CORE will provide new levels of data connectivity to the EV market and help customers establish a complete data architecture across all processes.”
“We are delighted to partner with Schneider Electric to address one of the key challenges in the EV market, electrode level data connectivity,” said Michel POPOVIC at IN-CORE Systèmes. “Together, we can collect traceability data, connecting it to the rest of the value stream and contextualize it to bring immediate value to customers.”
Delta & TI Lab
Delta, a global leader in power management and a provider of IoT-based smart green solutions, announced the establishment of a joint innovation laboratory with Texas Instruments (TI), a global semiconductor leader. With TI’s innovative technologies and ample experience in digital control and gallium nitride (GaN) and Delta’s core competence in high-efficiency power electronics, the joint lab will not only deepen the long-term relationship between the two companies, but also enhance the power density and performance of Delta’s own EV power systems, to ultimately strengthen its core competitiveness in the field of electric vehicles (EV).
James Tang, Executive Vice President of Mobility at Delta and Head of its Electric Vehicle Solutions Business Group, stated, “Delta has been developing high-efficiency automotive power products, systems and solutions since 2008 to help reduce transportation-related carbon emissions. Through the establishment of this joint innovation laboratory with TI, Delta intends to leverage TI’s abundant experience and advanced technology in digital control and GaN to enhance the power density and performance of our EV power systems. With more leading-edge product development and design capabilities, we aim to achieve closer technology exchange and collaboration to accelerate product development and improve product safety and quality. We look forward to furthering our technology leadership and creating a win-win situation in the rapid developing electric vehicle market.”
“The transition to electric vehicles is key to helping achieve a more sustainable future, and through years of collaboration with Delta Electronics, we have a solid foundation to build upon,” said Amichai Ron, senior vice president for Embedded Processing at TI. “Together with Delta, we will use TI semiconductors to develop EV power systems like onboard chargers and DC/DC converters that are smaller, more efficient and more reliable, increasing vehicle driving range and encouraging more widespread adoption of electric vehicles.”
In response to the era of software-defined vehicles (SDV), Delta has built up joint labs with several international semiconductor companies that focus on automotive power electronics and digital control, to meet the future innovation and higher requirements for power efficiency and safety in next generation EVs. The joint innovation lab with TI is expected to accelerate development and full validation of Delta’s automotive products to help international car manufacturers develop key architectures and layouts for next-generation EVs with better product quality than the competitors.
Next Gen Niobium NTO Anodes
Toshiba Corporation and Sojitz Corporation of Japan, and Brazil’s CBMM, the world’s leading producer of niobium, have completed development of a next generation lithium-ion battery that uses niobium titanium oxide (NTO) in the anode. They today held an opening ceremony and unveiled a prototype E-bus powered with the new battery, which realizes an ultra-fast charge time of around 10 minutes and delivers high energy density. The bus has started testing and demonstration operations at CBMM’s industrial plant in Araxá, Brazil.
This marks the world’s first operation* of a prototype e-vehicle powered by a lithium-ion battery with NTO anodes, further paving the way to battery commercialization. The three companies will continue to work together to maximize the use of their respective technologies and knowledge, toward launching the next-generation lithium-ion battery with NTO anode in the global market in Spring 2025.
The NTO battery-powered E-bus was developed by Volkswagen Truck & Bus, Brazil, a pioneer in the development and mass production of electric trucks in Latin America. The prototype will also be tested at CBMM’s industrial plant to provide invaluable data on the characteristics of the NTO battery and vehicle operation data, and support any adjustments needed for commercialization.
NTO has twice the theoretical volume density of the graphite-based anode generally used in lithium-ion batteries, which prompted the three companies to sign a joint agreement to explore its potential in June 2018. They subsequently signed a joint development agreement in September 2021 that extended their collaboration to mass production processes of next-generation batteries, mainly targeting application in commercial e-vehicles. In August 2023, the three companies entered into a broad joint sales and marketing agreement that covered building a supply chain and promoting sales and marketing activities, and subsequently, in May this year, at a ceremony attended by representatives of the Brazilian and Japanese governments, they signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening the supply chain and business promotion.
Toshihiko Takaoka, Vice President of the Battery Division at Toshiba Corporation said, “I am very pleased to see an E-bus equipped with our NTO battery, SCiB™ Nb. In partnership with CBMM and Sojitz, Toshiba has implemented the practical use of niobium in battery material applications with the development of an NTO battery that recharges quickly and delivers high energy density. We will continue the development work to expand our SCiB™ battery lineup and business”.
Koichi Yamaguchi, Senior Managing Executive Officer and President & CEO for the Americas of Sojitz Corporation said, “Sojitz, as one of CBMM’s shareholders and CBMM’s sole agent for the Japanese market, has been building a stable raw material supply system and cultivating applications. Through this demonstration, we are very confident that the NTO battery brings the market a new solution for the electrification of the mobilities and other applications. Taking advantage of our global sales networks and an operational presence in a wide range of industries, we, Sojitz, will play major roles in the project with regards to supply chain management as well as accelerating business development including sales activities.
Rogério Ribas, Technical Head of Battery Program at CBMM said, “The use of niobium oxide in the anode of lithium-ion batteries brings special characteristics for this component. As it hosts lithium at an inherently stable voltage, it provides safer and more efficient operation. In addition, due to its open crystalline structure, which facilitates the intercalation of lithium, it allows a full recharge in less than 10 minutes, without causing damage to the battery. Due to these unique characteristics, niobium-containing batteries are safer and have a much longer lifespan than traditional batteries”.
*As of June 19, 2024. Research by Toshiba, Sojitz and CBMM.
FordPro Smart Charging in Mass
Ford Pro™, Ford’s commercial division, introduces the Ford Pro™ Smart Charging Bundle to assist Massachusetts businesses with adding electric vehicles to their fleet operations. The program aims to reduce upfront and ongoing charging costs.
The Ford Pro™ Smart Charging Bundle offers a free Ford Pro™ 48-amp charger for home or worksite charging, or an 80-amp charger for worksite charging, to Ford Pro™ Charging software subscribers enrolled in the Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS), a first-in-the-nation program established by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in 2020.
The CPS is designed to lower emissions and costs associated with seasonal periods of peak electricity demand by encouraging the use of clean energy technologies that can supply or reduce demand during peak periods.
“Clean energy technologies like energy storage and demand response resources, when used during peak electricity demand, lower the likelihood that we need to call on expensive fossil fuels,” said Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Commissioner, Elizabeth Mahony. “Through its Clean Peak Energy Standard, DOER believes these technologies can reduce costs for ratepayers, lower Massachusetts’ emissions, and create a more resilient electric grid. Ford Pro’s Smart Charging Bundle is now among the tools to help Massachusetts shift to a clean energy portfolio and achieve net zero emissions in 2050.”
Ford Pro™ Charging has over 1,000 commercial worksite depots that power up fleet EVs. Committed to simplifying the electric transition for businesses, Ford Pro™ offers tailored EV consulting and a portfolio of integrated charging hardware and software solutions. The team can design, implement, and operate solutions for Ford and other brand vehicles to help businesses ensure that fleet vehicles are charged optimally and ready for work when they need them.
Ford Pro™ Charging software monitors millions of data points per day to continually improve the EV charging experience for commercial customers, empowering businesses to customize and manage their EV and charger performance. Operating costs are estimated to be 48% lower or more in terms of fuel and maintenance costs for fleets with electric vehicles. 2 Additionally, businesses charging Ford electric vehicles could potentially save hundreds of dollars per vehicle, per year, leveraging smart charging software to schedule charging during off-peak hours.1 By leveraging demand response, which curtails EV charging during peak times, energy loads can be managed, resulting in cost savings for businesses and a cleaner power grid.
“Our team is focused on easing the transition to electric for business and government customers,” said Ted Cannis, Ford Pro CEO. “Through this program, Ford Pro customers essentially get their own virtual ‘charging manager,’ as we will do the heavy lifting such as providing no-cost charging hardware, managing the charging schedule, avoiding peak rates, and ensuring business EVs are powered up appropriately to get work done.”
Click here to learn more about the Ford Pro Smart Charging Bundle.
A One-Stop Shop for Solutions
Ford Pro™ delivers an always-on, connected customer experience through a comprehensive suite of solutions including vehicles, charging, software, financing, and service for all commercial and government customers.
Ford is the leading global commercial vehicle brand and America’s best-selling line of commercial vehicles for 39 consecutive years,3 featuring BUILT FORD TOUGH® commercial trucks and vans integrated with Ford Pro software and services.
This includes America’s best-selling electric truck, F-150® Lightning®;4 America’s best-selling electric van, E-Transit™;5 America’s best-selling line of all-electric commercial vehicles, Class 1-7 trucks, and vans;6 America’s best-selling commercial van, Transit®;7 and America’s best-selling trucks, F-Series, for 47 consecutive years.8
1 Estimated savings based on TXU energy rates and TDU costs per kWh (April 25, 2023) and average annual electricity consumed during home charging (annualized based on July 2023-April 2024 data). Off peak hours are 7 pm to 1 pm the next day.
2 (a): Scheduled maintenance costs for the E-Transit™ van are estimated to be 48 percent less than the average scheduled maintenance costs for a gas-powered 2024 Transit® over 5 years/75,000 miles (whichever comes first). Estimated average maintenance costs per gas vehicle are $1,549, while the estimated average maintenance costs per electric vehicle are $795.
(b): Scheduled maintenance costs for the F-150 Lightning® pickup are estimated to be more than 49 percent less than the average scheduled maintenance costs for a gas-powered F-150® over 5 years/75,000 miles (whichever comes first). Estimated average maintenance costs per gas vehicle are $1,659, while the estimated average maintenance costs per electric vehicle are $833.
(c) Scheduled maintenance costs are estimated to be significantly lower in the Ford Mustang Mach-E® SUV. Owners enjoy estimated savings of more than 51 percent over 5 years/75,000 miles (whichever comes first) compared to a gas-powered 2024 Escape® SUV. Average cost per gas vehicle is $1,569 and the average cost per electric vehicle is $758.
3 Based on S&P Global Mobility CY1985-2022 U.S. TIPNet registrations excluding registrations to individuals. TIP registrations before 2010 do not include all GVW 1 and 2 vehicles.
4Based on 2023 CY industry-reported total sales.
5Based on 2023 CY industry-reported total sales.
6Based on S&P Global Mobility CY2023 US TIPNet Registrations, GVW Class 1. 7 electric vehicles excluding SUVs. TIPNet Registrations prior to 2010 do not include all GVW 1 and 2 vehicles.
7Based on total U.S. industry-reported sales (2023 CY).
8Based on 1977-2023 CY industry-reported total sales.