About Optimise Prime

Optimise Prime is an industry-led, Network Innovation Competition (NIC) funded project investigating the effects of commercial electric vehicles (EVs) on the electricity distribution network. The programme unites a cross-sector team of distribution network operators (DNOs), fleet and private-hire vehicle (PHV) operators and technology providers in order to help networks plan for, and promote, the EV revolution.

Need

The electrification of transport is widely accepted as a necessary step towards reducing the climate impact of modern societies. EVs are an example of this step towards lower carbon transport, carrying the additional benefit of reduced particulate emissions compared to their petrol and diesel counterparts. The anticipated large-scale uptake of EVs is clearly to the benefit of society; however, the electricity demand they impact on the power network poses a significant challenge.

Commercial EVs are likely to prove particularly challenging for the network to deal with - they have high energy requirements and charge locations may be clustered together in depots. If such uptake is unmanaged, costly network reinforcements may be required. These costs will either be passed on to connected customers through increased bills, or paid by the fleet needing the connection, likely deterring companies from transitioning to EVs.

Solution

Through the use of large-scale field trials, the Optimise Prime programme will gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of commercial EV uptake on the distribution network. The trials will monitor thousands of EVs to understand when, where and how they charge. EV data will be combined with network data in Hitachi’s core platform, where advanced data analytics will be used to build models which will help quantify the impact of commercial EVs on the network now and in the future.

Once the potential effects are understood, innovative strategies for their mitigation, such as profiled connection agreements and flexibility services, will be trialled. A combination of simulations and live trials will allow for the optimal combination of smart solutions and infrastructure to be implemented, enabling both fleet operators and DNOs to embrace the EV transition.

Core questions

The Optimise Prime programme aims to answer the following questions:

1. How do we quantify and minimise the network impact of commercial EVs?

2. What is the value proposition of smart solutions for EV fleets and PHV operators?

3. What infrastructure (network, charging and IT) is needed to enable the EV transition?

Why we’re collaborating

Hear from Optimise Prime’s partners Hitachi, Centrica, Royal Mail, UK Power Networks, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks and Uber how they’re accelerating the transition to commercial electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK through the world's largest commercial EV project.

Funding

Optimise Prime is a £34.5m project which is in-part funded through Ofgem’s Network Innovation Competition.