Renewables: JLRâs EV Charging Innovation to Support the Grid
Electric vehicles are gaining market traction, with sales passing 20% in 2024 according to the International Energy Agency.
Despite this growth, consumer concerns about charging processes remain according to McKinsey research.
To address some of these concerns, JLR has entered into a partnership with smart EV charging platform ev.energy.
This collaboration aims to provide more environmentally friendly and cost-effective charging solutions for their clientele.
ev.energyâs software will integrate with JLRâs connected vehicle platform to schedule charging intelligently at grid-friendly times, prioritising renewable energy for participating clients.
After the pilot, JLR plans to roll this solution out to clients in the UK, US and EU.
Swarna Ramanathan, JLRâs Chief Strategy Officer, says: ââOur work with ev.energy is testament to the power of corporate-scale-up collaboration in unlocking fresh ideas to solve some of our industryâs biggest challenges.
âTogether, we are designing and deploying a smart charging solution that will meet our luxury clientsâ expectations.
âIt will support the transition to electrification through the efficient use of energy, with a view to reducing pressure on the grid and lowering costs for users.ââ
About ev.energy
Headquartered in London, ev.energy is a platform founded in 2018 that specialises in managed charging software for electric vehicles.
Its mission is to facilitate seamless connections between EVs and grid networks, making the charging process greener and more economical.
ev.energyâs platform uses a comprehensive approach to manage the power needs of electric vehicles, charging them at times that are favourable for the grid.
This strategy considers factors such as grid capacity, streamlining energy use for maximum efficiency.
JLRâs investment into ev.energy through its venture capital arm, InMotion Ventures, was part of a US$33m Series B funding round led by National Grid Partners.
To date, ev.energy has collaborated with more than 55 utility companies around the world to manage energy consumption across electric vehicle networks intelligently.
Nick Woolley, CEO & Co-Founder of ev.energy, says: ââThis initiative is a prime example of how an automaker and a software provider can work collaboratively to deliver a convenient, high-quality proposition, support the uptake of EVs and alleviate grid pressures to make charging cost-effective.
âWorking with JLR in the UK will help us further understand how our Virtual Power Plant can support a grid with mostly low-carbon supply and growing demand from electric vehicles, learnings which we can apply to other regions and markets.ââ
JLRâs Innovation Strategy
JLRâs collaboration with ev.energy is part of its broader Innovation Strategy.
This framework seeks to cultivate new technologies through partnerships.
Outside of ev.energy, JLR has worked with Allye Energy to co-create portable battery energy storage systems from second-life PHEV batteries.
Another InMotion Ventures portfolio company, Cesium Astro, is collaborating with JLR to develop advanced in-vehicle connectivity.
Google subsidiary Waymo is also working with JLR to develop and expand autonomous Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.
AI leader NVIDIA formed a strategic partnership with JLR in 2022, jointly developing automated driving services and AI-enabled services.
Starting in 2025, all new Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar vehicles will be built on the NVIDIA DRIVE AI-defined platform, using NVIDIA data centre solutions for cloud and NVIDIA DRIVE Orin in the car.
At the time of the announcement, Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s Founder and CEO, said: “Nextâgeneration cars will transform automotive into one of the largest and most advanced technology industries.
“Fleets of softwareâdefined, programmable cars will offer new functionalities and services for the life of the vehicles.
“We are thrilled to partner with Jaguar Land Rover to reimagine the future of transportation and create the most advanced cars.”
