Chubu Electric Power × Aakel Technologies Start of OPCAT Management System services for commercial EVs

Press Release
September 28, 2023

Chubu Electric Power × Aakel Technologies

Start of OPCAT Management System services for commercial EVs

Promoting the spread of EVs through smart charging using AI

Consulting with Chubu Electric Power about the introduction of commercial EVs means solving concerns also with Aakel: we will provide a comprehensive service for corporate and local government customers to introduce and operate commercial EVs and quick chargers, as well as EV charging management.

　Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (HQ: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President & CEO: Kingo Hayashi, hereinafter "Chubu Electric Power") and Aakel Technologies Inc. (HQ: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, President & CEO: Ryoji Miyawaki, hereinafter "Aakel") are engaged in commercial electric vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "EVs") such as route buses and delivery trucks. We have jointly developed a charging management system (hereinafter referred to as "this system") that enables optimal charging with a quick charger.
Chubu Electric Power will start providing this system as "OPCAT" (Optimization Charge and Transportation) from today.

Background of joint development

　Amid the urgent need to electrify commercial vehicles to achieve carbon neutrality, the number of business sites that install multiple charging facilities is increasing. The economic burden on customers has also increased, such as costs for enhancing power facilities and rising electricity charges (contracted electricity) due to the concentration of charging.

To solve these issues, from 2022, we will combine real-time vehicle data such as EV operation plans, location information, and battery level, in addition to facility power demand forecasts and electricity charges by time zone, automatically generating charging schedules for multiple EVs deployed using AI. We have been demonstrating and developing an EV charging management system that efficiently charges the amount of electricity required for operation.

With the introduction of OPCAT, it will be possible to optimally control the charging of multiple EVs, reduce the power consumption of the entire facility (peak cut), and shift charging during times when electricity charges are low (peak shift). Thereby it will minimize the economic burden, such as expansion of power facilities and rising electricity charges (contracted power) associated with the introduction of EVs.

In addition, optimal charging based on the operation plan contributes to improving the vehicle utilization rate through quick charging and reducing CO2 emissions due to further vehicle electrification.

Through the provision of OPCAT, we will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society together with the society and customers by solving issues and improving the environment for the further spread of commercial EVs.

OPCAT（OptiCat）Overview

Name‘s Background
•Optimization Charge and Transportation
•Charging management system to control the rise in charging electricity fees and a service that will contribute to the future optimization of bus and truck travel routes.

Service Overview
Optimal charging control of multiple vehicles considering vehicle operation, remaining battery, and electricity charges.

Screen Image

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. Department Head of Business Creation：Kazuaki Ishikawa’s comment

　The country has set a goal in its "Green Growth Strategy for Carbon Neutrality by 2050" to install 150,000 charging infrastructures, including 30,000 rapid chargers for public use, to promote the widespread adoption of EVs and achieve the same level of convenience as gasoline cars by 2030. In line with this, it is anticipated that the number of rapid chargers will also increase for commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks as part of the electrification efforts.

In such an environment, we believe that Aakel’s unique technology, the "OPCAT (OptiCat)" system, which enables the smart charging and comprehensive automation of complex operational management for EVs, holds a competitive advantage in the market. By collaborating with Aakel, we aim to address challenges and enhance the infrastructure for the further proliferation of commercial EVs. We hope to have as many customers as possible adopt this technology and contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.

Aakel Technologies Inc. President&CEO：Ryoji Miyawaki’s comment

　To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the shift to EVs is an issue that companies and local governments must address. Under such circumstances, companies and local governments that are leading the way in introducing EVs are facing several issues, especially when it comes to charging, which has prevented them from switching to EVs.

To solve these problems, it is necessary to acquire the status of the vehicle in real time and optimally manage the vehicle and charging. To achieve this, we have developed a solution for EV charging and vehicle management in quick chargers with Chubu Electric Power. I am very happy and humbled that our company was selected in the comparative demonstration with companies in Japan and overseas.

We look forward to working with Chubu Electric Power to dispel concerns about the introduction and operation of commercial EVs in quick chargers, thereby contributing to the popularization of EVs for companies and local governments.

Inquiries

Legal name：Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.
Business：Renewable energy business, nuclear power business, overseas business, community support infrastructure-related business, etc.
Foundation：May 1951
Location：1 Higashishinmachi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
Representative：President&CEO Kingo Hayashi
Capital stock：430.7 bil ¥
Employees：3,153
PR：General Affairs, PR and Community Coexistence HQ News Group
TEL：052-961-3582
URL：https://www.chuden.co.jp/

Legal name：Aakel Technologies, Inc.
Business：Providing digital services for carbon neutrality and consulting for companies aiming for net zero
Foundation：August 2018
Location：Daimyo Kaisei Bldg 7F, 2-11-13 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Representative：President & CEO Ryoji Miyawaki
Capital stock：60 mln ¥
Employees：45
PR Officers：Nishiyama and Fuchida
TEL：092-732-7551
MAIL： pr@aakel.co.jp
URL：https://aakel.co.jp/