Aiming for a near-perfect 99% operational rate for electric vehicle chargers, according to Joachim Lohse of Ampcontrol.
In the rapidly evolving world of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, Ampcontrol, a company based in New York but founded by a European, is making waves with its focus on energy optimization for EV charging infrastructure. The company's roots can be traced back to its founders' backgrounds in energy consulting, who foresaw the potential strain that EV charging would place on power grids.
As the demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, power grids face a significant increase in both load and variability. Ampcontrol's solution tackles this issue head-on by optimizing charging schedules and leveraging vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which enables two-way energy flow between EVs and the grid.
The company's strategic focus is shaped by three key elements:
- Founders' Background in Energy Consulting: The founders' deep expertise in energy systems helped identify the need for platforms that can handle the anticipated grid stress and optimize energy consumption.
- Anticipated Grid Demands from EV Growth: With the surge in electric vehicle adoption, power grids face higher and more variable loads. Ampcontrol’s solution addresses this by optimizing charging schedules and leveraging V2G technology.
- Energy Optimization Goals: The platform aims to reduce charging costs and support smoother grid integration, which is crucial for large fleets like First Student’s school buses.
Ampcontrol offers a comprehensive suite of services for operators, including telematics, asset management, maintenance, and inspection. The company also provides important support functionality as part of its partnerships, with consistent communication such as weekly calls to ensure the fleet is getting the most out of the partnership.
The company's services are not charged per extra feature or per new update, making it an attractive option for companies looking to scale their EV fleets. Ampcontrol has customers in North and South America, Europe, and South Africa, and serves both car fleets and larger vehicle fleets, including ridesharing services, middle-mile trucking at ports, and transit buses for schools.
In Europe, the transition from 5% to 10 to 50% EV fleet penetration is facing a political impasse due to the drying up of government incentives for electrification. However, the U.S., with the recent enactment of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, is seeing a significant boost to electrification. Ampcontrol's founder, Joachim Lohse, previously worked in energy consulting and saw the potential for EVs to strain power grids, leading to the company's focus on energy optimization.
Companies can work around utility constraints by using battery technology, solar alternatives, planning charging times, and delayed charging. Ampcontrol aims to achieve a 99% uptime for charging hardware and overcome grid constraints. The company's services have resulted in cost savings on fuel, with some cases showing savings of up to 45%.
Europe could learn from the U.S. mentality of running with an idea, even without immediate profit or government incentives, to maintain long-term competitiveness and future-proof operations. Ampcontrol aspires to work with global companies operating across multiple markets, helping them navigate the challenges of EV adoption and optimize their charging infrastructure for maximum efficiency.
[1] Ampcontrol Website: www.ampcontrol.co [2] First Student Case Study: [www.ampcontrol.co/first-student-case-study]
- In the commercial vehicles sector, Ampcontrol, a New York-based company founded by a European, is making strides in the electric vehicle (EV) industry with its focus on energy optimization for EV charging infrastructure.
- To tackle the increasing strain on power grids due to EV growth, Ampcontrol leverages telematics, V2G technology, and optimized charging schedules, aiming to reduce costs and support grid integration.
- Ampcontrol's services extend to vehicle fleets, offering a suite of solutions for operators, including telematics, asset management, maintenance, inspection, and ongoing support through partnerships.
- With operations in North and South America, Europe, and South Africa, Ampcontrol caters to both car and larger vehicle fleets, such as ridesharing services, port middle-mile trucking, and school transit buses.
- In a renewable-energy forward approach, companies looking to scale their electric-vehicle fleet can benefit from Ampcontrol's offerings, which help minimize utility constraints, ensuring smooth operations and driving cost savings on fuel, up to 45%.
