How RWE are making electric vehicles a reality in Europe

Oct. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Electric Vehicles will play a significant role as a storage facility of renewable energy according to Joerg Lohr, Senior Manager E-Mobility at the global utility leader RWE Effizienz.  Joerg Lohr is one of several global experts who will share his insight and experience at the upcoming Smart Utilities Australia and New Zealand conference and exhibition in Sydney from 8-10 November.  

During the event, Australia and New Zealand’s top utility professionals will particularly focus on e-mobility and smart grid developments and feature real life practical insights based on recent trial results and lessons learnt from the region and abroad.

These projects are not an idea anymore  
RWE currently operates more than 1350 publicly accessible charging spots in Europe, each of them connected to its Electric Vehicle Management System, and another 80 in the USA and China are to be installed.  Says Joerg Lohr:  “we are one of the biggest operators of intelligent infrastructure for electric vehicles in the world, and unique within Europe.”  

He continues:  “two lighthouse projects are in Berlin and Amsterdam.  In Berlin, we have operated more than 180 charging points for two and a half years already and our cooperation partner Daimler runs 100 electric vehicles, the “smart ed”.  Vattenfall, another utility, and BMW are the other part of this project.  Together with them, we demonstrate roaming and billing processes as well as interoperability of several hardware providers.”

The Amsterdam project is the first commercial Electric Vehicle project in Europe and RWE are one of two Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) providers.  Joerg Lohr:  “we consult the City of Amsterdam, support our Dutch subsidiary Essent, deploy and operate more than 250 charging points on behalf of the City of Amsterdam.  These two projects are not an idea anymore.   Both are up and running.”

From idea to renewable business model
Joerg Lohr says as a subsidiary of a utility company, the provision of electricity and the relationship with the customer are parts of the business model.  He explains:  “but as an infrastructure operator, we have a much bigger scope.  Electric Vehicles are just a part of a complex, innovative grid solution with decentralized generation and intelligent consumption points.  As part of a utility, we can look back on our extensive experience in grid management and generation.  RWE is one of the biggest investors in renewables in Europe.  So if you ask about strategy: we want to provide knowledge, products and services to make smart grids happen.”

The RWE Electric Vehicle specialist says the management of smart technology as part of intelligent grids will become the core of the industry in the future.  He notes:  “It will not be about the engine anymore, it will be all about the battery.  In future, a manufacturer will differentiate by the performance, range and costs of the battery.”

More speaker highlights at Smart Utilities Australia and New Zealand include:
•  George Maltabarow, Managing Director, Ausgrid, Australia
•  Kristian Handberg, Project Manager - Low Emission Vehicles, Sustainable & Active Transport Branch, Policy & Communications Division, Department of Transport Victoria, Australia
•  Patrick Hayes, Engineering Director, Glendale Water and Power, USA
•  Belinda Jones, Manager Retail Operations, Hunter Water Corporation, Australia
•  Inji Choi, Researcher, Kepco, Korea
•  Donny Helm, Director Technology Strategy & Architecture, Oncor Electric Delivery, USA
•  Ari Sargent, CEO, Powershop, Australia
•  Christine Wright, Senior Market Analyst Competitive Markets Division, Public Utility Commission of Texas, USA

Event dates and location:
8 - 10 November 2011, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia
Event website:  www.smartutilities-ausnz.com

For more information, interviews and media accreditation:
Communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Tel.  +27 21 700 3558      
Fax.  +27 21 700 3501  
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Email:  annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.com

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