ECOtality’s Blink Network integrates with Cisco’s Home Energy Management Solution
31 January 2011
EV charging equipment supplier ECOtality, Inc. has completed development for integrating the Blink Network charger interface with the Cisco Home Energy Management Solution (HEMS). The Blink Network charger interface will now be accessible through the Cisco Home Energy Controller (HEC), where Blink EV Home Charging Station owners can access information about their EVs and optimize their charging and energy usage.
Cisco’s HEMS technology will be deployed as part of The EV Project, the largest rollout of EV infrastructure to date, of which ECOtality is the project manager.
The Cisco Home Energy Controller (HEC) helps residential customers monitor and control their energy use in the home. An optional set of Cisco compatible, tested peripherals can be wirelessly connected to the HEC in order to provide monitoring and control of energy loads such as HVAC systems, pool pumps, water heaters, appliances, and other devices. The Cisco HEC can be controlled from a touch-screen display. From this controller, Blink Home Charging Station owners will now be able to control and monitor their EV charging.
The Blink Home Charging Station is classified as a Level 2 (240 volt AC input) charging station and is equipped with a 7-inch touch screen display where users can control the Blink Network charger interface. With the Cisco HEC, consumers will be able to access the charger interface remotely.
The Blink Network charger interface is the hub where users can receive information about their EV and Blink Home Charging Station including charge status, statistics and history. The Blink interface will also determine which charging times are most cost-effective and promote responsible power consumption. The charger can be programmed to start and stop at any time. Where supported, the charging station’s built-in energy meter will support energy usage data evaluation to further aid with the power management of the charging station, and the user’s home.
This product plan highlights the upcoming battle for energy intelligence. i.e. We see a three way competition at the moment to gain command and control status over your use of energy for your home and automobiles. The most literal and largest power grab is coming from the utility companies and their insistence on "smart grids."
While there are some benefits to the "smart grid," in large part it is a play by utilities to obtain command and control of home owner energy use. For the independently minded this is unnecessary and intrusive. The only thing a utility really need do is provide you power when and where you demand it. For this they get paid. But utilities want to micro-manage your life under the rubric of conservation.
EV charging stations such as the Blink Network likewise want a smaller slice of the micro-management pie. But they want to appear to be providing you with all manner of essential data about your EV charge status, battery condition and possibly the actual fanny temp of your pre-heated seats.
Much of this indispensable information is provided already by your "smart EV," and is therefore duplicated unnecessarily by the charge station vendor and utility. Which only reinforces the need avoid all this digital redundancy in the interest of economy. And simplicity.
Charging a battery is a complex task within the confines of the pack and support systems. To the consumer/EV owner it should be a refreshingly EASY task - requiring little or no technical acumen. Point is we don't need "smart" chargers or grids or power outlets. Most EVs will have all the smarts built in. Any additional smarts are bound to make the entire enterprise... stupid. So, KISS. (/rant)
BTW, with the advent of highly efficient CHP systems in the form of Residential Power Units - the smarts and management of energy use will remain where it belongs - in the hands of the homeowner.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 01 February 2011 at 11:48 AM