Electrification of transportation infrastructure in China improves efficiency

Increasing the rail sector’s share in global transport offers major benefits as it is more energy efficient than any other mode of transport. Electrification of railways provides the additional opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, especially in urban areas.

In China, the electrification of railways has proceeded at a remarkable rate over the last 20 years. In 2016, 75% of all rail activity (passenger and freight combined) was on electric trains. This is a more than 3-fold increase compared to 1995 when this figure was only 21%.

In addition, it is technically feasible and environmentally-friendly to power ships when docked in ports and harbours with electricity provided by the grid instead of with their diesel engines. Not only does this make their operation more efficient, but also quieter and less polluting. In China, this has been strongly encouraged through government subsidies, mandatory requirements and pilot demonstrations.

GSEP member State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) is contributing to making electrification of ports and harbours a reality. By the end of 2018, SGCC had made power supply available to 100% of the public service areas along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. In 2020, one of the main targets in transport electrification is to provide 100% power supply in the ports and harbours along the Yangtze River.

Finally, in airports, all vehicles and equipment are encouraged to be driven by electricity. In the Beijing Daxing International Airport, 100% of the baggage cars, ferry buses and other vehicles are powered by electricity. And airplanes always get their power supply from the public grid when connected to the jet bridges

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Charging Networks are Recognized as the Key Infrastructure to Promote the Spread of EVs in China

By the end of 2017, China had over 450,000 charging posts, a 14-fold increase since the end of 2014.

As the leader in China’s EV development, State Grid implemented the Smart EV-to-Grid Service Network (SEGSN), providing an EV charging service and charging-post information. Moreover, SEGSN also provides EV sales and rental, EV insurance and finance and charging-post maintenance. SEGSN is the information hub for EV drivers, electricity grids and charging station operators, facilitating efficient communication among EVs, posts and grids and contributing to the foundation of a smart EV ecosystem.

SEGSN now covers 19 provinces and 150 cities. It also provides charging services along over 310,000 km of highways, at intervals of only 50 km.

By the end of 2017, 170,000 charging posts were connected and over 800,000 consumers registered. In 2017, electricity consumption from EV charging in SEGSN reached 390 GWh, of which about 100 GWh was during off-peak periods, accounting for 26% of the total.

SEGSN is capable of real-time operation monitoring and efficient maintenance: 90%
of faults are fixed in one hour and the availability of charging posts is as high as 99%.

Columbus, Ohio, Provides a Replicable Model for Smart Electrification for Social Good

Columbus, OH, USA

In 2016, the City of Columbus – home to AEP’s corporate headquarters – won the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Smart City Challenge. Smart Columbus has a vision that starts with the reinvention of mobility, positioning central Ohio for a future beyond what anyone has yet imagined. Goals include:

  •  Improving people’s quality of life
  •  Driving growth in the economy
  •  Providing better access to jobs and job opportunities
  •  Becoming a world-class logistics center
  •  Fostering sustainability

As part of this initiative, AEP Ohio will help drive consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by removing barriers and investing in and supporting the deployment of electric charging station infrastructure. AEP was one of several partners to sign on to the challenge with the City of Columbus. The collaborative focuses on modernizing the transportation network and reducing carbon emissions in both the transportation and electric power sectors. While the partnership focuses on central Ohio, the lessons we take away will benefit all of AEP.

As part of the effort to transform Ohio’s capital city into a model for urban planning and development in the 21st century economy, AEP Ohio has invested approximately $1.5 million in fleet electrification since 2016 and installed nearly 60 EV charging stations in 2017. In addition, the project includes installing nearly 900,000 smart meters in Columbus and across the state of Ohio. We are also pursuing a plan to invest approximately $175 million to improve energy efficiency, advance clean energy and energy storage, and usher along the electrification of transportation systems throughout the state. 

In April 2018, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved AEP Ohio’s Electric Security Plan (ESP), supporting expanded access to EV charging and renewable generation, while continuing to enhance distribution grid reliability.

Under the ESP, a program to expand EV charging station availability will be created as part of the Smart Columbus initiative. The project creates a rebate incentive program for the hardware, network services, and installation of charging infrastructure for up to 300 level 2 charging stations and 75 DC Fast charging stations. The $10 million program offers rebates for site owners to install charging stations, with 10 percent of the stations to be located in low-income areas. It is believed to be the first approved rebate for EV charging in the Midwest. 

Enel X Aims to Become a Leader in e-Mobility

Enel X aims to become a technological leader in the e-mobility sector, to promote increasingly widespread and efficient electrical mobility with its charging infrastructure, Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI) services and second battery life applications.

In November 2017, Enel X presented the Charging Infrastructure Plan for Italy. The plan will see the installation of about 7,000 charging stations by 2020, and 14,000 by 2022; the program calls for an investment between 100 and 300 million euro.

Furthermore, thanks to the recent acquisition of eMotorWerks, a California based start‑up, Enel X’s charging stations can interact with cars, customers and the grid. Indeed, JuiceNet, an integrated IOT platform developed by eMotorWerks, is able to remotely control and aggregate the distributed loads of thousands of EVs for grid balancing purposes, in addition to optimizing the cost of vehicle charging. Hence, thanks to VGI technology, Enel X smart charging stations can interact with the grid providing flexibility to the system, by modulating the process of charging according to the status of the grid. Additionally, customers can monetize their vehicle battery by participating to VGI program.

EVs in China Will Account for 40% of Sales, 50 Million Vehicles and 200 TWh Demand in 2030

According to a State Grid study, the share of electricity in the transport sector of China could reach 10% in 2025, 15% in 2030 and 25% in 2040, compared to 5% in 2015.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in China jumped from 5,600 units in 2011 to 45,000 in 2014 and 740,000 in 2016. In 2017, China’s EV production was about 770,000 and its total EV holdings about two million.

China’s electric vehicle holdings in 2030 are projected to be high as 50 million, which will lead to an annual electricity demand of 200 TWh for EV charging. According to projections by the Society of Automotive Engineering of China, the country’s car sales in 2030 will be 38 million, of which the sales of EVs will be 15 million, or 40%.

Public transportation is being increasingly electrified, with 4,500 electric buses in Beijing (and a target of 10,000 by 2020, or 60% of the total) and 16,000 in Shenzhen in November 2017, with the ambition of achieving 100% electric buses by the end of 2017.

Sowee Allows for the Smart Management of Connected Homes

With its connected hub and a range of services, EDF’s subsidiary SOWEE allows its customers to control their heating down to the last degree and see exactly what they’re spending.

Sowee includes the control, sensors and a smart thermostat that works with the home’s smart meters. An app allows customers to manage their energy from their phone. Sowee provides different temperature configurations throughout the day and/or budget control, and an “Away” setting to save energy. Sowee’s smart-management system can help customers to reduce their energy bill up to 15%.

Sowee also allows customers to manage all the smart appliances in their home, with features such as weather forecasts, journey planning, humidity and CO₂ readings, providing simplicity and comfort. Sowee will soon be able to manage the energy production of photovoltaic panels and the charging of electric cars, driving the development of self-generated power and renewable energy solutions.