The Optimize Prime fleet charging project, led by Hitachi Europe and UK Power Networks, has come to a close in the United Kingdom. The trials, which began in July 2021, involved over 8,000 electric vehicles from Centrica, Uber, and Royal Mail. The findings will assist all parties in understanding the requirements for large-scale rollouts. The trial also included local energy partners such as Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Hitachi Vantara, and Novuna Vehicle Solutions.
The vehicles participating in Optimize Prime were charged at the depot, at home, and on the road. The project aimed to provide an “end-to-end overview of what the switch to EVs means for the cables and substations that deliver electricity to the community,” according to Hitachi. Additionally, the trial sought to determine the investments required by businesses and fleet owners for infrastructure.
The results indicate that electric vehicles can cover the typical range requirements for all three types of fleets, making electrification feasible and achievable across the board. However, the trials also emphasize the need for charging infrastructure to be built out. As an example, Hitachi notes that Tower Hamlets, one of London’s largest boroughs, will require around 3,200 more chargers by 2025 to support Uber and other ride-hailing drivers who live and charge there.
The trials also revealed that EV fleets can generate revenue and support network operators through “turn-down” services, where fleets can be charged only when needed and charging can be stopped during peak times. This is made possible through digitalization, which enables planning and forecasting of charging requirements by fleet and network operators to manage demand during peak times.
Hitachi has created a comprehensive guide based on the experiences of Optimize Prime, which takes into account business needs, site constraints, and the management of changes to business processes. The final results and datasets on commercial EV charging and use will be shared on UK Power Networks’ open data platform in the coming months.
