ElaadNL is the knowledge and innovation center in the field of (smart) charging infrastructure in the Netherlands.
ElaadNL, along with EVnetNL, has emerged from the foundation e-laad, which established a network of more than 3,000 public charging stations for electric cars across the Netherlands between 2009 and the beginning of 2014. This was done with the purpose to stimulate EV.
ElaadNL provides the coordination for the connections of public charging stations to the electricity grid on behalf of the involved DSO’s and has been working from the beginning to adapt the grid connection demands to make these more equiped for charge points. Managing the existing charging stations is done by EVnetNL in coordination with the relevant municipalities, and doing so providing an innovative charge network, a living lab for ElaadNL.
ElaadNL is owned by the DSO’s in the Netherlands. ElaadNL is active in a lot of open ‘practical’ developments such as e-clearing.net (www.e-clearing.net) and developed the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) (www.openchargealliance.org ). Which is a de-facto global standard for connecting different charge stations with different management systems which now is managed by the ‘Open Charge Alliance’.
Tasks in the project
- Contribution to Standards(organisations) under WP Exploitation
- Standards and communication protocols for the project architecture / implementations
- Assessment of the potential value of alternatives in the future with demand growth from EVs, renewables integration
- Local policy and regulations implications
- Pilots implementation in the Netherlands
Responsible
- T 4.4 Standards and communication protocols
- T 9.3 Local policy and regulations implications
- T 10.4 Pilots implementation in the Netherlands
Core competences
The emergence of electric driving and sustainable charging is a significant development for the electricity grid. Through their mutual involvement via ElaadNL, the Distribution System Operators (DSO’s) involved (including Cogas, Endinet, Enexis, Liander, Stedin and Westland) acquire an overview of the measures to be taken to ensure that the network remains reliable and affordable. Innovative solutions are investigated that will generate great benefits for society. For example, optimal use can be made of the existing network through ‘smart charging’, and fewer expensive alterations to the electricity grid are needed. ElaadNL also envisages free choice of supplier for the user. In addition, innovations are also put to use in other ways, for example in making the public charging stations more compact, more functional and cheaper and in a more efficient connection and management process.