Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

As global sales of electric vehicles continue to rise, efforts are being made to ensure that the charging infrastructure is future proof and that EVs – no matter where they are built or driven – have compatible charging systems.

 

The first of two centres to develop and promote commonality in electric mobility on both sides of the Atlantic has opened for business in Chicago in America. It will soon be joined by a European centre, split between sites in the Netherlands and Italy.

 

These EU-US Interoperability Centres will be ensuring that smart grids – intelligent electricity systems ¬– and electric vehicles will be developed to interact efficiently, providing sustainable power systems with low losses and high levels of security and supply.

 

Smart grids will provide two-way digital communication between the supplier and the consumer and will predict and respond to the actions of all users connected to the grid. This interoperability between energy supplier and EV user is crucial to achieving better energy efficiency. This, in turn, will lead to improved air quality in cities and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

 

Commonality of systems will remove differences in technical regulations, standards and certifications – things that cost time and money to both companies and consumers. As well as their work on systems, the centres will provide testing facilities for EVs, batteries and related equipment. And they will also promote closer ties between the global carmakers to ensure EV interoperability.

 

Read the press release