2. Smart (managed) charging
can deliver significant
benefits to companies in the
eMobility value chain.
With eMobility sharply on the increase, electric vehicle (EV) smart
charging is becoming essential.
But to be successful, smart charging must be adopted at scale by
customers (including individuals, fleet owners and charge point
operators).
To generate that take-up at scale, players in the eMobility value
chain must offer customers simplicity, affordability, experience
and comfort.
3. Smart (managed) charging is part of the eMobility value
chain with industry players taking up different roles
Fuels retailers
Automotive OEMs
EV charging networks
Many stakeholders are contesting for a role across the value chain
EVSE manufacturers
Roaming providers
EV charging SaaS providers
Grid companies
Energy retailers
EVSE installers
eMSP
Electric vehicle,
batteries and
charging hardware
manufacturing
Energy supply
Charge station
deployment
(Installation)
Charging stations
operations and
maintenance
Charge station
service providers
(e.g., billing, roaming)
Managed EV charging
How are the
classic, local
utility players
engaging with
smart charging?
5. eMobility market trends by the numbers
Projected price parity
for key EVs vs. internal combustion engine
(ICE) vehicles by 2022
Utility EBITDA outlook
From a projected €1.7 billion in revenue for utilities
through EV-enabled flexibility by 2030 in Europe
2022
45%
Projected EV market share
in China, United States and Europe by 2040
60%
Increased electricity demand
EV electricity consumption in Europe and the US
will rise from 6 TWh in 2016 to 1,800 TWh by 2040
300x
15% Flexibility-driven EBITDA
from a projected € 5.1 billion eMobility value pool
(i.e., through managed/smart charging) by 2030 in Europe
The future of automotive
and utilities is electric
Source: Accenture’s Digitally Enabled Grid research program, Accenture Research & Accenture Strategy e-Mobility Value Research 2019
6. Billion avoided distribution grid reinforcement needs
by 2040 through managed EV charging including smart charging,
demand response and vehicle to grid (V2G), providing local
congestion management balancing the otherwise growing peak
electricity demand requiring traditional reinforcement
$30
$21
Billion avoided transmission grid reinforcement needs
by 2040 through managed EV charging
$41
Billion worth flexibility in energy supply + retail portfolio cost
optimization by 2040 for integrated utilities through aggregated
managed charging including smart charging, demand response
and V2G (dynamic energy retail prices)
Vehicle-to-grid
81%
Demand response
Smart charging
29%
20%
% of future EV owners interested in using
flexible EV charging, by service (%)
Consumers love flexibility
eMobility market trends by the numbers
The potential value of smart EV
charging is significant
Source: Accenture’s Digitally Enabled Grid research program, Accenture Research & Accenture Strategy e-Mobility Value Research 2019
7. Energy
Suppliers
Charging EVs presents challenges
that can be tackled by charging smart
Forecast more complex demand
patterns and match power production
requests (electricity purchasing) to
unpredictable demand
EV charging challenges Smart charging benefits
DSO: local
congestion
ü Control and shift demand based on energy market prices
à “peak shaving”
ü Lower commodity costs by optimizing wholesale energy
trading
ü Balance energy portfolio through higher renewables share
ü Pool of EV as a flexible load à grid stabilization
ü More liquid flexibility market (source of system-level
flexibility)
ü Increased grid reliability and efficiency; despite high load
condition
ü Avoid reinforcement costs by deferring expensive grid
upgrades
Need for
flexibility
Electric Grid
Operators
EV deployment
à significant new
instantaneous load
TSO: balancing renewable
supply with peak demand
(50 Hz frequency control)
EV deployment
à more energy
consumption
To create a more sustainable energy system based on renewable energy sources
EV charging must be smart
9. Consumers are not interested in providing flexibility
unless it’s packaged in a compelling value proposition
EV charging challenges Smart charging benefits
Need for
flexibility
customers typically do not fully understand the value and mechanisms of flexibility, nor are interested in them.
customers are interested in simplicity, price, experience and comfort of set-and-forget solutions:
creating simple propositions that “hide” the complexity could help.
• EV driver: lack of insight on charging status or expenses, fear of not having
sufficient battery/range at departure
• Prosumer: wants to consume home-generated power and enjoy additional
benefits through demand-response program participation
• Site owner (e.g., parking, offices, apartment buildings): fear of blowing the
fuse due to extra load on local infrastructure, having to enforce expensive
grid connection upgrades, being charged higher T&D tariffs
• Fleet operator: lack of insight in charge rate, fear of having to pay a much
higher utility bill, minimize fleet downtime
ü Ensure killowatt output
remains within max.
capacity of the facility
ü Optimize auto-
consumption of local
renewables
Focus on pains and gains of the consumer
Address consumer needs
through smart flexibility solutions
ü Charge at off-peak rates
ü Provide visibility on costs
ü Avoid higher demand
charges
ü Remunerate user for
providing direct load
control
ü Monitor and provide
charging session
insight to user
ü Charge to requested
battery level by
departure
Customer
10. Who would be interested in smart charging?
Which customer segments can we identify?
Melissa, 32, rents an apartment
• Can my building manage the extra load? I’m afraid to blow the fuse and
cause a blackout or break something.
• I have no clue know how much I’m spending on the charging sessions.
• I never know how much battery I have charged when I’m about to leave.
Conner, 44, owns a house
• Can my house manage the extra load? I don’t want to upgrade the
infrastructure with an expensive grid connection.
• Will I be charged higher T&D tariffs?
• I want an integrated utility bill, but with a clear split of house vs. car
consumption.
• I need to be able to reach my destination without stress or hassle.
Vanessa, 53, lives in an energy community
• I want to consume my own electricity production from my rooftop
solar panels. When I’m not consuming it for household purposes,
I’d like use it to charge the EV we share with neighbors.
• Can I lease a networked, smart charger? The investment is much
higher, but I’m willing to participate in demand response.
Residential Commercial
On the Go
George, 25, depot manager at parcel firm
• Will the EVs have enough range to finish their delivery list? This is our key
business objective.
• How many chargers do we need? Will the depot’s grid connection handle
the load?
• I’m unfamiliar with hardware and software of connected chargers and
smart charging as a service.
Jack, 37, is fleet manager for a law firm
• I need to allow prioritized charging for employees vs. visitors or other
guests.
• How does the group of chargers impact my overall electricity
consumption?
• What’s the optimal number of chargers, balancing investment cost and user
comfort?
• Our people want to charge green when renewable supply is abundant.
Emily, 29, is facility manager at a mall
• Our guests don’t want smart charging: they want to charge as fast and
as much as possible, but they want it green.
• We need to meet the regulators’ requirements: due to local grid
congestion, my city is limiting the number of chargers we can install,
which must be smart (equipped with emergency control).
Monitor and
insights
Investment and
bill savings
Environmental
impact
Comfort and
peace of mind
11. We see three distinct roles for providers, each with their
own customer value proposition and business opportunities
Solving specific user needs
• Have insight into charging sessions
• Have control over charging expenses
• Protect their infrastructure
• Auto-consume renewable production
• Connect EV/charge points with
building EMS
Reducing charging expenses
• Electricity bill reduction
• Support integration of variable renewable
energy (VRE) in the power system
(decarbonization)
Cash back to end user
• Remunerate drivers for providing
direct load control of their EV and
charging session
Integrated Services Providers
• One stop shop for EV charging
• Bundle savings into the monthly electricity bill
Monitor and
insights
Investment and
bill savings
Environmental
impact
Comfort and
peace of mind
EV Charging
Services Providers
Energy Suppliers Flexibility Aggregators
EV chargers and related services
• Sell and lease charge points
• Maintain and operate charge points
Commodity sales
• Sell kWh in the EV market
Grid flexibility:
• Source small-scale flexibility
• Aggregate and resell on flex market
12. We see three distinct roles for providers, each with their
own customer value proposition and business opportunities
EV chargers and related services
• Sell and lease charge points
• Maintain and operate charge points
EV Charging
Services Providers
Commodity sales
• Sell kWh in the EV market
Energy Suppliers
Grid flexibility:
• Source small-scale flexibility
• Aggregate and resell on flex market
Flexibility Aggregators
Integrated Services Providers
• One stop shop for EV charging
• Bundle savings into the monthly electricity bill
Monitor and
insights
Investment and
bill savings
Environmental
impact
Comfort and
peace of mind
Complementary offering:
Charge point + EV-specific electricity
contract + smart charging
Additional capabilities required to perform
second role are relatively easy to acquire
E2E cffer and customer lock-in: Client
intimacy across complete energy journey
How to combine two different optimization
objectives in your smart charging algorithm?
Optimization gets extremely complex with
three different priorities, rules and technology
Product strategy must combine the benefits of
each offer but avoid complexity toward users
Less common for classic e-mobility
players (new business model and skills)
Go to market? Customers? Margin?
13. For smart charging, there is no one size that fits everyone
There are very distinct plays for the roles of EV charger services providers,
energy suppliers and aggregators.
Companies starting to create smart charging offerings should develop a
consistent strategy covering:
• The type of optimization they include in their value proposition to the
customer.
• How their own benefits from smart charging and the offer toward their
customers reinforces each other.
• How they will create the business and it capabilities in their company that
matches this offerings, making technology choices that support their needs.
• Which processes and systems they need to implement to bring their value
proposition to life.
What’s next?