Renault Mobilize App - more grid stability and lower EV charging costs

Renault's mobility service provider Mobilize has expanded the range of its Smart Charge application with important features that enable users in France to reduce their electricity costs. Mobilize has integrated Ecowatt's grid load forecasts into the app to reduce peaks in grid load on the strained French electricity market. The electricity forecasts used by the French grid operator Réseau de Transport d'Electricité, S.A. are based on information about available supply and expected demand. The Mobilize app's algorithm will take these forecasts into account when planning the charging operations of connected electric vehicles in the future. If a particularly high grid load is anticipated, the planned charging operations will be brought forward or postponed. In this way, the application contributes to grid stability.

App users save money with the Mobilize Smart Charge application by charging their electric vehicle when electricity rates are low and also contribute to a lower CO₂ footprint, as sustainably generated energy is preferably used for charging. In practice, the app retrieves forecasts for a four-day period. A three-stage color code – green, orange, and red – provides information about the expected grid load on an hourly basis:

Color indicates grid load

Green means that consumption is expected to be lower than production. Mobilize Smart Charge sets charging times based on off-peak and peak hours and plans the charging processes when demand is at its lowest wherever possible.

In orange, the grid is expected to be heavily loaded. Mobilize Smart Charge schedules charging times based on off-peak and peak hours, planning charging sessions when demand and therefore costs for the consumer are lowest. If possible, charging during “orange” hours is avoided—provided the driver’s mobility parameters such as necessary minimum range, state of charge, and departure time allow for it.

Red indicates that power production does not meet the expected demand in France. The Mobilize Smart Charge app avoids “red” hours for charging whenever possible to reduce costs for the electric vehicle driver. Users of the app can also actively reduce their consumption during high grid load by lowering their minimum state of charge (SOC) and shifting charging to “green” times.