Jedlix is the fastest and most straightforward way to integrate smart charging into your own energy and e-mobility service. Jedlix smart charging algorithms optimize electric vehicle charging to make the most optimal charging plan for you and your clients. For an end-to-end smart charging service, it is crucial to consider user preferences and all relevant (flex) use cases that can occur at a client’s site. In this article, we zoom on the wiring of the platform and how an optimal charging plan is created.

 An optimal charging plan is made individually for each user and three main elements are brought together in our algorithms:

1.  User charge settings and onboarding input

2. Car and charger telemetry

3. Flex use cases behind and front of the meter

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1. User charge settings and onboarding input

When an EV driver is onboarded on our platform (via our APIs or App) a range of data points are created and can be updated. These settings provide the first boundaries within which the smart charging algorithm is allowed to operate. Besides departure times per day, these are specific items like the desired battery level (SoC) that we have to reach first before postponing the charging or a maximum battery level at which the charging should stop. Please take a look at an example API and App screenshot below. 

Charging settings are always prioritized first when calculating an optimal charging plan. Furthermore, in the onboarding there are several fields that provide information for the (smart) charging location of the client. For example, what tariff is applied, who is the energy supplier, presence of solar panels and many more things. Many of these fields are optional and do not always apply in every setting. Some clients only have dynamic rates, others have solar panels and an off-peak rate etc. 

2. Car and charger telemetry

Jedlix receives telemetry updates from the car and/or charger that is integrated for the client. The telemetry triggers the start of a (smart charging) session and continuously feeds the Jedlix Platform. Based on continuous data from the car and/or charger the charging plan is recalibrated. For example, if the target battery level is adjusted in the car or the charging load occurs to be lower in practice due to load balancing running in the background. 

Good to mention we support both cars as chargers and a hybrid combination. In a hybrid scenario charging controls are done via the charger, the car is only providing telemetry that only the car could provide (e.g. battery level and target battery level).

3. Flex use cases behind and front of the meter

 Jedlix supports a wide variety of flexibility use cases and can combine them as well. Typically, we distinguish between “behind the meter” and “front of the meter” flexibility use cases. Behind the meter use cases directly impact the energy bill of the charging location (of the EV driver) while front of the meter use cases optimize energy flows in the energy chain for the supplier and grid operator. The value of these different use cases varies a lot per country and the situation of the client. The overview below gives you an impression of suite of flexibility use cases that we support.

Behind the meter use cases like (dynamic) tariff optimization and solar smart charging require specific information that apply to that charging location. Front of the meter use involve our Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology that aggregates a pool of EVs. The VPP aggregates the cars in one pool to lower the energy procurement and balancing costs of the supplier or provides balancing services directly towards the TSO.

Jedlix typically prioritizes behind the meter over front of the meter use cases. This ensures the VPP is not overruling any tariff windows which might lead to miss-understanding on the customer side. This makes working and integration our VPP simple, like how you would dispatch an actual power plant. 

Go deeper on flexibility

Want to know more about different flexibility use cases and what might be applicable to your clients or portfolio? Check out the report we created with the USEF foundation that provides a great overview on different flexibility use cases behind and front of the meter: https://www.usef.energy/app/uploads/2020/02/USEF-and-Jedlix-Practical-deployment-of-EV-flexibility.pdf

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