To mark project completion and raise awareness of its achievements as well as the international rapid charging context where they take place, the Consortium has organised “Rapid charging: a reality made in the Basque Country”. This event was held on 21st June at Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao and gathered the following participants: Estíbaliz Hernáez, Deputy Minister for Technology and Innovation of the Basque Government, and speakers from the Spanish Business Association for the Boosting and Development of the Electric Vehicle Market (AEDIVE); CharIN e.V. Association; CHAdeMO Association; as well as representatives from the leading EV manufacturers.

To find out more about the presentations, please visit this link.

INGETEAM is the project coordinator, responsible for developing the multi-protocol charger that combines rapid DC charging outputs of 50 kW (as per CCS and CHAdeMO standards) as well as 43 kW rapid AC charging. Likewise, Ingeteam has carried out the control architecture and integration of different components and subsystems of the charging station.

EDS has provided its know-how to achieve optimal electric development and the most advanced installation and commissioning process for the charging solution.

IBERDROLA has developed the communication solution between the charging station and the charging manager. Furthermore, the company has developed the control centre software and investigated new protocols with the aim of efficiently managing the energy produced in the new infrastructure and facilitating the application of tariffs and new payment methods for users at charging points.

IBIL has undertaken the fast charging system validation, which is necessary to achieve the integration of all technologies developed and identify international standards and requirements demanded by main vehicle manufacturers, to ensure compliance of the equipment developed, as well as achieving international market commercialisation.

ZIV has led the development of the HMI, i.e. how the user interacts with the new charging station. In addition, the company has collaborated in the control architecture and developed modules to monitor metering conducted at charging posts as well as their internal and external communications.

The BASQUE ENERGY CLUSTER has shared its knowledge of the sector and the EV value chain, coordinating communication and dissemination activities, as well as the relationship with the Advisory Committee throughout the project.

AZKARGA has received the technological backing of TECNALIA and ZIV I+D as members of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network. 

The Basque Energy Cluster has coordinated the relationship between the members of the Advisory Committee, holding regular meetings to keep them informed on the progress made throughout the project and to obtain their feedback in terms of improvements, requirements and expectations in relation to the performance, capabilities and configuration of rapid charging systems.

The technological and market information obtained and shared by the Advisory Committee has provided a fundamental basis to define the sector evolution and business models to be applied to different value chain segments in the scope of EV and EV charging infrastructures.

One of the main needs to achieve a gradual implementation of electric vehicles is a rapid charging network guaranteeing users the possibility of charging their vehicles quickly and in public access environments. Moreover, a network of these characteristics reassures EV users they can easily cover distances which exceed the vehicle range, and in almost exactly the same way as vehicles with internal combustion engines.

However, most charging points installed in Spain and worldwide until now are slow charging points. They are often associated with individual car parking spaces for each private car or company fleet vehicle.

Rapid charging products entail high technological complexity as they are very powerful (>50 kW) and have to transform AC current from the grid into DC current to supply vehicles directly and therefore, communication between point and vehicle is a must. In addition, charging points must be connected to a remote control centre and offer users the facility to make payments. Finally, due to the different car manufacturers' specifications, these devices have to be fitted with more than one rapid charging option to guarantee interoperability with different car makers.

As a result, a rapid charging point network involves a high level of initial investment and on top of that the recurrent cost of the fixed power factor has to be added, for very little return on energy sales. In practice, this has resulted in the installation of rapid charging points being kept to minimum levels.

All the foregoing factors made it clear there was a need to define a project such as AZKARGA: providing a differential innovative cost-competitive solution for the deployment of a rapid charging network, while contributing to position Basque industry in this sector.

The Basque Energy Cluster has coordinated the communication and dissemination activities throughout the project.

The project achievements have been echoed in two articles published in specialised electric mobility journals:

In addition, outreach activities aimed at the sector and mainly focused on the Basque Energy Cluster EV work group, which comprises some of the key actors in the Basque Electric Mobility value chain, have been undertaken. AZKARGA members have presented the project breakthroughs in regular team meetings and the most relevant sector manufacturers, such as: the Technical Advisory Committee members (BMW, Nissan, Volkswagen-Audi and Renault) and electric bus manufacturers (Vectia, Jema-Grupo Irizar and Volvo) have also taken part to share their market strategy.

As part of its contribution to the project, the Basque Energy Cluster drafted a paper entitled “Analysis of EV Market and Charging Infrastructures”, which was presented at the EV work group meeting held on 8/11/2016 at Ingeteam headquarters (see presentation summary here.

Activities aimed at the general public include the Conference “Rapid charging: a new boost for EVs”, which deals with the future challenges faced by EVs. The event held on 23/06/2015 at Torre Iberdrola in Bilbao gathered institutions, international experts and representatives of leading brands in the automotive sector.

To find out more about the presentations, please visit this link.

AZKARGA was also present with a stand at the 8th Advanced Lithium Batteries for Automobile Applications (ABAA8 Conference), the main event in the field of worldwide electric vehicle batteries. In 2015, CIC energiGUNE hosted this event at Euskalduna Conference Centre (Bilbao) from 30 September to 2 October 2015.