Volvo aims to streamline public recharging process for EVs [video]

Owners would get the bill for their usage

The search for Elvis hasn't turned up much, but Volvo is hoping for better results with their ELVIIS (Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure) project.

Designed to make electric vehicles more convenient, the ELVIIS project is being spearheaded by a consortium of companies including Volvo, Ericsson, Göteborg Energi and the Viktoria Institute. The aim of the experiment is to make electric vehicles chargeable at any outlet as the owner would automatically get billed for their energy usage.

As it stands, the ELVIIS technology will direct drivers to an outlet via GPS. The owner can then pre-set charging times via the car's infotainment system or a mobile device. The car then communicates with utility companies to develop a charging scheme which minimizes grid usage for lower electrical rates. When the vehicle is charged, the cost of the energy usage is added to the owner's personal utility bill.

Five C30 Electrics are being used as part of the experiment and all have been equipped with a new 7-inch touchscreen display. They will be evaluated over the course of the year, but there's no word when or if ELVIIS technology will be introduced in production vehicles.

Source: Volvo

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Volvo Car Corporation partner in development of smart charging concept for electric cars

Volvo Car Corporation's focus on connectivity technology also includes smart features for charging of electric vehicles.

The company is one of the partners in the research project ELVIIS (Electric Vehicle Intelligent Infra Structure) that develops a smart on-board concept for controlling, measuring and paying for electricity when charging via any outlet.

ELVIIS is a consortium involving Volvo Car Corporation, Ericsson, the utility company Göteborg Energi and the Viktoria Institute. The innovative research project across several industries aims to bring mobile connectivity to electric cars - and to identify and remove barriers for using electrical vehicles in daily life. The concept works like this:

The driver can choose to charge the battery pack via any ordinary power outlet.
The outlet is identified via GPS.
The driver pre-sets timing and charging amount on the touch screen or remotely via a smart phone or tablet.
Using the mobile network, the car communicates with the grid and sets the charging scheme in order to support optimal utilisation of the grid and most favourable energy price.
Any unintended interruption of charging process is directly reported to the driver's mobile phone.
The system directs the cost for each charge to the car owner's personal utility bill.

Electric drive without compromises
The Volvo C30 Electric has been used as a test car in the project. Equipped with an integrated 7-inch colour touch screen, it makes the smooth charging concept available at the driver's fingertip. Five C30 Electric cars will now be used for testing and evaluating the technology during a year.

"Our basic view is that the owner of an electric vehicle shouldn't have to sacrifice any of the properties he or she expects from a luxury car," says Lennart Stegland, Vice President Electric Propulsion Systems, Volvo Car Corporation. "This smart technology for charging in any outlet, and paying automatically via your own electricity bill, is an excellent example of how we do everything to make the daily use easier for the customer."

The concept is developed on a generic communication platform to make the technology globally applicable.

Totally in control, totally connected
The ELVIIS technology is fully in line with Volvo Car Corporation's development of Sensus technology, which makes the driver feel totally in control and totally connected.

"Sensus is the interface that promotes intuitive communication with the car, connecting it to the driver's digital world. We will continue to extend the offer of intelligent content that provides easy access to support, information and entertainment," says Lennart Stegland.