EV WATTS: Driving electrification through the power of data

EV WATTS works with industry experts and partners in a data-driven project.

Electric Vehicle Wide-scale Analysis for Tomorrow’s Transportation Solutions (EV WATTS) is helping stakeholders better understand plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) driving and charging patterns. Recently launched, the project is now collecting data on transportation electrification. Technical analysts, industry experts, data partners and other stakeholders across the county are collaborating to clarify the opportunities vehicle electrification presents as well as the barriers to its widespread implementation. 

The final project outcome will be the largest data set on PEVs and charging stations to date as well as critical analysis of the findings. Using the real-world data, this project will answer questions about how the latest advancements in PEVs and electric vehicle charging station technology address market barriers, how to improve the business case for electrification and what behavioral changes electrification may require. The deliverables will be publicly available which will provide a range of stakeholders with invaluable information they can use for years to come as transportation continues to electrify.

Partners across the country help guide EV WATTS 

Energetics and Clean Fuels Ohio are leading the project in partnership with Clean Cities coalitions across the United States, ChargePoint and Sawatch Labs. Energetics is also collaborating with several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories to conduct data collection and analysis. DOE funding has made the effort possible.

To publicly launch the project, Clean Fuels Ohio invited leaders in transportation electrification to an EV WATTS information session at the 2020 NTEA Work Truck Show in early March. During the session, Margaret Smith of Energetics and Andrew Conley of Clean Fuels Ohio shared an overview of the EV WATTS project and discussed the benefits of becoming an EV WATTS data partner. 

With the project under way, Energetics convened the project advisory committee (PAC), composed of electrification experts and stakeholders. The meeting gave PAC members a chance to learn details about project activity, provide insights and guide future activity. 

“We are happy to continue our decade long relationship with Energetics through the EV WATTS project,” Adam Ruder, clean transportation manager at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and project PAC member, said. “The information this data set will provide will help consumers, fleet owners and others get off the sidelines of transportation electrification.”  

Numerous Clean Cities coalitions across the country are helping with data collection by securing data agreements from local fleets and charging station locations. In early May, Energetics presented a project overview to the broader nationwide Clean Cities Coalition Network to encourage additional coalitions to support data collection efforts. The first data-sharing agreements are now in place, and data loggers have been installed on several test vehicles.

“It will be extremely valuable to fleet owners to have data on the cost benefits of electrification, particularly for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles,” Charlotte Argue, senior manager at Geotab, said. “This data will provide confidence to fleet managers and serve as a tool to encourage electrification.”  

EV WATTS continues to seek data partners

EV WATTS is currently looking for participants to share data from PEV charging stations. Data collection will be comprehensive, covering both all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles across multiple applications and geographic areas, along with both Level 2 and DCFC stations at a variety of locations and settings. If you operate several PEVs or charging stations, EV WATTS wants to hear from you! 

“The success of this program will largely be indicative of the support of our data partners,” Tim Cho, Clean Fuels Ohio manager of the coalition partners for the project, said. “Their collaboration is invaluable to achieving EV WATTS goals—including how to better encourage widespread vehicle electrification.”

There are several ways to join EV WATTS—or just learn more

The EV WATTS website includes project resources, partners and contact information. The  Facebook and Twitter pages provide up-to-date information on project-related developments. Those interested in sharing data or learning more about EV WATTS can email the project team at evwatts@energetics.com.

This project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Vehicle Technologies Office Award Number DE-EE0008890.