E-mobility Technology Summer 2020

expense and administrative hassle, but rather
the civil engineering, works and organisation.
This can be greatly reduced if interfaces are built
into the roads, housing, and industrial estates
during construction or scheduled maintenance,
rather than as an add on afterwards.
Enabling future smart cities, today –
commentary by Connected Kerb
Connected Kerb is a British start-up that
has taken an innovative and future-proofed
approach to developing and delivering smart
cities technology. The company provides electric
vehicle charging infrastructure solutions
that enable future communities through
connectivity. Its system is a smart cities platform
that integrates both power and data at the
kerbside to support electric, connected, and
autonomous vehicles, as well as the deployment
of advanced IoT technologies. With a focus on
inclusivity, Connected Kerb’s vision is to create
sustainable, future-proofed, and connected
environments for all those within our society.
Founder and Director of Innovation, Stephen
Richardson explains that what differentiates
Connected Kerb from traditional charge point
vendors is that its technology is a two-part
solution of flexible below-ground (power
and data) infrastructure and an advanced
charging and smart cities hardware solution.
This solution is comprised of a Power &
Data Pack that is sunk beneath the pavement
and housed in a Node Box, and the visible,
above-ground charge point socket and sensors.
The components of the subterranean Node
Box provides access to both power and data
at the kerbside, which in turn enables and
manages not only smart EV charging, but
also provides a neutral platform for an array
of different smart cities technologies.
Richardson highlights that the aim in
deploying a unique system such as this, is to
deliver both flexibility and longevity. It enables
upgrading over time (the system is modular
and able to integrate new technologies) while
also delivering a far broader value proposition
than purely EV charging (multiple infrastructure
projects in one single infrastructure solution),
therefore providing value to a much broader
cross-section of users than solely EV drivers.
Once the Connected Kerb Node Box is
installed it becomes a neutral host for a
range of technologies, such as 5G, connected and/
or autonomous vehicles and mobility services. Its
connectivity allows for more effective management
of EV chargers in real time (key for load management)
and supports the many ambitions of smart cities.
With current challenges considered, governments are
under immense fiscal pressure, as well as increasing
accountability for environmental commitments.
Connected Kerb’s unique solution offers an integration
of flexible innovations that is both cost-effective
and scalable, allowing city planners to prepare
for the future, while delivering for the present.
The future of EV infrastructure
Available, accessible, smart, and automatic
charging infrastructure offers huge
potential to transform transportation.
Node Box
Having ubiquitous interfaces to power and
communications allows charging infrastructure
to be turned into a commodity. Sharing stations
for electric scooters or bikes can be installed at
low cost and moved as demand and usage patterns
change. Batteries or renewable energy sources
can be installed to help deal with grid weaknesses.
EV charging stations can be installed and operated
at a fraction of the cost previously associated
with these technologies.
Smart charging and fleet management allows
electric vehicles to have a higher up-time while
also reducing wear and tear. Battery state of
charge can be maintained at optimum levels,
avoiding complete discharge or charge cycles
which stress battery technology, meaning
batteries last longer. Historic usage patterns
and even weather data can be utilised. For
example, if there is a week of rain and cold
weather ahead, it is likely that shared scooters
will not be used, so the state of charge can be
set to conservation levels. However, if a long
weekend ahead promises perfect weather,
the scooters can be charged up to full to
prepare for the expected surge in demand.
Inductive charging with its automatic handsfree
process, no wear and tear and ability to
be seamlessly integrated into the landscape
provides the final piece to the puzzle.
At INTIS, we envisage a future infrastructure
which is seamless, invisible, and automatic. A
customer picks up an electric scooter from a
charging station integrated into the pavement.
The vehicle assigned to them has the correct
state of charge to complete their trip and
INTIS easy charge 5 inductive station for Metz moover electric scooters
was chosen because its battery has experienced
a lower number of charging cycles than other
available options. The customer makes their way to
their destination; already, a charging slot has been
reserved for the vehicle and another trip has been
lined up after a planned 20 minutes of charging
to top up the battery. The customer reaches their
destination and parks the scooter at another charging
station in front of the train station, at which point
the opportunity charging process is immediately and
automatically started. At no point has the customer
or the operator had to think about the energy
needed to travel; the whole process is effortless.
Infrastructure like this not only enhances the
experience for the user, it reduces costs for the
operator as well, both by reducing maintenance
and increasing the longevity of the vehicle. Looking
to the future of electric vehicles, this kind of
infrastructure also allows battery capacity to be
reduced, further saving both money and resources.
Throughout the history of technology, each
progressive step has involved greater use of
resources and energy. The results of this are
clear to everyone. Electric vehicles powered by
renewable energy generation and enabled by
smart infrastructure have the potential to buck this
trend, providing truly sustainable mobility. •
e-mobility Technology International 8 9
Summer 2020