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The Fast & Flexible Interconnect (FIX) Program Enables Reliable Charging of EV Fleets in Constrained Distribution Systems

Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, and The Mobility House, a leader in the battery charging and clean energy space, unveiled the Fast & Flexible Interconnect (FIX) program, which enables reliable charging of electric vehicle (EV) fleets in constrained distribution systems. The first-of-its-kind program is designed to help utilities and grid operators address interconnection delays and infrastructure challenges associated with EV fleet electrification.

The adoption rate of electric vehicles continues to rise steadily, with light commercial vehicles projected to increase from 24,000 in 2021 to 3.8 million in 2030, and substantially increasing strain on the electric grid. The FIX program will revolutionize EV charging management, providing low cost, reliable, rapid-to-implement alternatives to traditional distribution load assessment and infrastructure upgrade methods which are currently not fast enough to meet customer needs or national transportation electrification goals. With FIX, transportation electrification goals are achieved more quickly and at lower costs than traditional methods of distribution load assessments and infrastructure upgrades.

The FIX programs suite of applications combines Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence solutions, including its Optimizer portfolio and distributed intelligence capabilities, with The Mobility House’s industry-leading charging and energy management system, ChargePilot^®, and simulation capabilities.

Utility goals and challenges vary widely, which is why FIX offers three varying program strategies:

1. Passive approach – Utility companies can provide pre-determined grid constraints and use load forecasting within the FIX program to meet the needs of fleet operators and distribution grid operators. Combined with ChargePilot, utilities avoid straining the grid by setting a fixed usage limit and adapting charging schedules to respect that limit.
2. Active approach – Using Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence solutions and The Mobility House’s load management capabilities, utilities can combine firm capacity, which refers to a reliable electrical supply, with flexibility capacity, which allows them to adapt and adjust the amount of additional electricity available for use, based on real-time data from the distribution grid. The goal is to provide the most effective and optimized charging capabilities for electric vehicle fleets while relieving strain on local utility-side infrastructure.
3. Dynamic approach – Offers an advanced and adaptive solution for charging electric vehicle fleets, with a focus on grid awareness, optimization and flexibility for both fleet operators and utilities. With Itron’s EV Optimizer solution, constraints are discovered and load limits are measured while load capacity is forecasted in real-time

With the FIX program deployed, EV charging can safely exceed the capacity of an electric panel board and utility infrastructure limitations within specific parameters, allowing utilities to plan and install components while accommodating charging requests with more flexibility.

“As a result of widespread EV fleet adoption, utilities and grid operators are facing greater complexity related to grid preparedness,” said Don Reeves, senior vice president of Outcomes at Itron. “By integrating Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence solutions with The Mobility House’s ChargePilot in a complete package, we enable site-level control with utility infrastructure.”

“Our combined solution gives utilities the power to turn electric vehicles into grid assets,” said Greg Hintler, CEO North America at The Mobility House. “With our programmatic approach to addressing distribution constraints, we can create EV infrastructure abundance and ensure a quicker transition to zero emissions transportation for all.”

The FIX program is available to utilities and grid operators in North America beginning Q1 2024. For more information, visit Itron’s booth #2200 at DISTRIBUTECH International from Feb. 27-29, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, or visit Itron’s EV Charging Management solution page.

About Itron

Itron is a proven global leader in energy, water, smart city, IIoT and intelligent infrastructure services. For utilities, cities and society, we build innovative systems, create new efficiencies, connect communities, encourage conservation and increase resourcefulness. By safeguarding our invaluable natural resources today and tomorrow, we improve the quality of life for people around the world.

Itron^® is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.

About The Mobility House

The goal of The Mobility House is to shape an emission-free energy and mobility future. We integrate vehicle batteries into the power grid using intelligent charging and energy solutions. The technology company was founded in 2009 and operates globally from its sites in Munich, Zurich, Paris, Singapore and Belmont (CA). As a neutral supplier, we work together with many partners such as charging equipment manufacturers, installation companies, back-end system operators, energy suppliers and automobile manufacturers. Our proprietary EV Aggregation Platform forms the technological foundation for our intelligent charging and energy management system, ChargePilot, and the smart charging tariff, beyond, that makes charging affordable while also stabilizing the power grids and markets.

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• Source: https://cleantechnica.com/2024/03/18/itron-the-mobility-house-to-address-grid-constraints-with-1st-of-its-kind-ev-fleet-electrification-program/