ESB ecars was at a major conference in Brussels to share the results of the largest EU electromobility project – Green eMotion. The project delivered the key findings from its four year’s work in advancing the use of electric vehicles and the trialling of related technologies in Europe. 

The event in Brussels was attended by over 200 European delegates from 15 countries, including representatives from the European Commission, car manufacturers, energy utilities, universities, and technology and research institutions across Europe. 

A total of 42 partners have been working on the Green eMotion project, four of the partners based in Ireland – ESB, Trinity College Dublin, Codema and Cork City Council – have worked together to conduct research and studies into national electric vehicle (EV) use and the different technologies that can be deployed to maximise sustainable transport methods. This has included collecting and analysing data gathered from a number of new EV trials and demonstrations conducted in Ireland. Amongst them were various types of fast charging, as well as, inductive charging at ESB Head Office and a Soft Open Point (SOP), a prototype device to assist with energy management. In addition, trials were conducted to facilitate international roaming between countries in order to allow seamless European wide charging for EV drivers. 

Electric vehicles play an important role in sustainable urban mobility policy across Europe and can make our urban areas more liveable by making our transport system sustainable, quieter and cleaner. Although some modes of electric transport have existed for decades, the key message is that the Green eMotion project has laid the foundations to further develop electromobility in Europe.

While opening the event in Brussels, Mrs. Magda Kopczynska, the head of Directorate on Innovative & Sustainable Mobility in the European Commission DG MOVE, highlighted another aspect of electromobility: “It is a promising technology also because it is at the cross-roads with our energy system and our digital market. We have to work on those three aspects: mobility, energy and digital to make it happen.”

Senan McGrath from ESB and a Green eMotion Board member said, “The Green eMotion Project was the biggest Electric Vehicle project supported by the European Commission both in terms of funding and the number of partners. By their involvement the Irish partners led by ESB and including Trinity College, City of Dublin Energy Management Agency (Codema) and Cork City Council - positioned Ireland in a leadership role with regards to electromobility across Europe." 

Green eMotion: After four years Green eMotion came to an end in February 2015. The project has defined and demonstrated a European framework for electromobility that connects all stakeholders for a seamless, cost-efficient and interoperable electromobility ecosystem. Starting in 2011, the project has developed prototypes to connect the islands of electromobility existing at the time. An overarching ICT architecture was defined and standards, especially for ICT interfaces were set. New business models for public charging infrastructure were analysed and ways shown for its optimised integration into the grid. Within 10 demo regions including Ireland, Green eMotion demonstrated that the project findings really work in practice and also support the setup of an electromobility environment from scratch. 

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About Green eMotion

Scope: The goal of Green eMotion is to develop and to demonstrate a commonly accepted and user-friendly framework consisting of interoperable and scalable technical solutions in connection with a sustainable ICT business platform. Smart grid developments, innovative ICT solutions, different types of electric vehicles, urban mobility concepts as well as the development of policies and regulations are to be taken into account.

Duration: 03/2011 – 02/2015 [48 months]

Coordinator: Dr. Heike Barlag, Siemens AG, Germany

Consortium: 42 (industry, utilities, electric vehicle manufacturers, municipalities as well as universities and research institutions)

Website: www.greenemotion-project.eu