Honda and Vattenfall sign a Letter of Intent to introduce flexible energy contracts specifically tailored for EV users
Europe-first agreement supports the active management of grid demand while maximising the use of renewable energy
Vattenfall is a leader in the European energy supply market
Honda will launch its first commercial energy service during 2020 to coincide with the launch of the Honda e
Honda has today announced a collaboration with Vattenfall, a leading European energy supplier, to provide a flexible electricity tariff specifically tailored for electric vehicle (EV) owners in Europe. The partnership marks a key milestone for Honda in the development of its energy management business that represent an important pillar of its ‘Electric Vision’ strategy in Europe.
In a letter of intent signed on 23 October 2019, the two companies confirmed their intentions to jointly develop and market a flexible electricity tariff that will allow EVs to be charged at the most cost-effective times, relative to grid demand. The tariffs – available to owners of any brand of electric vehicle¹ – also promote the use of electricity generated through renewable sources including hydropower and wind farms, realising Honda’s vision for sustainable future energy supply. This service will initially be available in UK and Germany in 2020, with other European countries to follow.
Vattenfall will also oversee the installation of Honda Power Charger domestic charge points, through preferred contractors in both the UK and Germany. The system consists of a charging unit that can be wall or pedestal mounted, with a maximum output of 7.4kW (single phase power supply) or 22kW (three-phase power supply). At 22kW, Honda e owners will be able to charge to 100% capacity in 4.1 hours, assuming a 32-amp supply, significantly faster than through a standard wall socket.
For EV users who park in on-street urban environments, customers of the new service will be able to use the ubitricity network of charging points together with its ‘smart cable’ mobile metering technology. ubitricity has a rapidly growing network of chargers in cities throughout UK and Germany, with 1,700 alone in London.
Jorgen Pluym, Energy Management Project Leader, Honda Motor Europe, commented, “This collaboration is a key pillar in the delivery of our energy management business for Europe. Partnering with Vattenfall will allow us to provide EV users with cost-effective charging for their vehicle while maximising the use of renewable energy. Honda is a true leader in this space and we excited about the potential for this new business area.”
Tomas Björnsson, Head of Vattenfall E-mobility said, “Our goal is to make it easier for EV drivers all over northwestern Europe. This important partnership shows that you can easily contribute to a fossil free world, powered by renewable electricity, and at the same time lower your costs”.
¹ Dependent on vehicle compatibility
About Vattenfall
Vattenfall is a Swedish energy company, fully owned by the Swedish state. Main markets are Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK. Vattenfall is one of Europe’s leading producers of renewable energy and the company wants to enable a fossil free life within one generation. Vattenfall operates numerous hydro-, wind- and solar power plants, including one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, Thanet, UK.
About ubitricity
ubitricity – Gesellschaft für verteilte Energiesysteme mbH: The objective of Knut Hechtfischer and Dr. Frank Pawlitschek when they founded ubitricity in 2008, was to enable electric vehicles (EV) to recharge using energy from renewable resources wherever they were parked. Today, the company is one of the leading providers of intelligent solutions for EV charging and billing. ubitricity combines technical expertise, such as the development of the mobile electricity meter, with the possibilities of digitalisation. The result is technically simplified and cheaper charging points, allowing a widespread expansion of charging infrastructure using lampposts. In addition, this approach solves the challenge of vehicle-specific billing for fleet management and the real estate industry. The mobile electricity meters also make it possible to turn EVs into intelligent storage for the electricity network – a key component for the development of renewable energy. www.ubitricity.com
