EV charging solution provider AmpUp concluded an initial pilot phase of its Adapt managed EV charging program in Connecticut in June. During heat waves, the system was able to meet grid demand at a third the cost of a typical utility peaker plant.
The Adapt program, which was developed through the Connecticut Innovative Energy Solutions (IES) program, incentivizes EV drivers with flexible charging plans. In exchange for allowing AmpUp to strategically pause charging sessions during peak grid hours (4-8 pm), EV drivers receive credits in their AmpUp mobile app, which can be used for future charging sessions. Commercial property owners are compensated for making their charging infrastructure available for grid services, and don’t need to enroll or submit data to earn their incentives.
During the three-month pilot, the Adapt program successfully shifted 5,450 kWh from peak demand times to off-peak hours across more than 650 charging sessions. This strategic load shift eased grid strain and reduced reliance on high-emission peaker plants, all at a cost of less than $0.50 per kWh, which is more than three times cheaper than the average peaker plant costs during a heat wave.
AmpUp provided the utility with a real-time dashboard, unparalleled day-to-day and hour-to-hour visibility into location-level performance.
Over 85% of participating drivers rated the program positively.
“The Adapt program’s success in Connecticut proves that we can effectively manage EV charging loads to support grid stability without compromising the driver experience,” said David Jackson, COO of AmpUp. “We’ve demonstrated a robust, scalable solution that offers real-time grid benefits and happy EV drivers. This offers utilities across the country a proven model to integrate public and shared EV charging into their demand-side management strategies.”
Source: AmpUp
