Geneva, 26 October 2022 – New research results published today by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) demonstrate that data sharing can reduce carbon emissions from electric vehicle (EV) charging by 15% and improve grid capacity and capital efficiency when deploying charging infrastructure.
The results are drawn from two digital solutions developed by Arcadis and Fujitsu, which provide spatial planning modules and optimization models based on data representing EV activity, infrastructure locations and capacity or carbon intensity. The data was obtained in collaboration with National Grid, LEVL Telematics, and Milk & More.
In order to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, the number of EV charging points needs to increase more than twenty-fold by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. This will require more investment in infrastructure and digital solutions powered by data sharing to better forecast infrastructure value, increase its efficiency and predictability, and reduce investment risks.
Although data is often viewed as a valuable asset that is best kept locked away, its highest potential is realized when aggregated. The new research shows how businesses can take leadership and create new environmental and economic opportunities when sharing data. Businesses in the transport sector must set a common framework to orchestrate data sharing and advocate for creating the right regulatory environment that standardizes data sharing while preserving competition.
“This important collaborative project provided clear evidence of how sharing data can accelerate decarbonization and highlights the imperative of establishing a common framework for the future. Our goal is to transform how we interact with information, enabling us to apply innovative approaches such as Social Digital Twin technology to address a wide variety of pressing societal issues, including reducing CO2 emissions”, commented Yoshinami Takahashi, EVP and vice-head of the Global Solution Business Group, Fujitsu.
Greg Steele, Global President of Mobility at Arcadis, said: “Arcadis was proud to work on this report with our fellow WBCSD partners. The case for data sharing and greater collaboration in electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI) is clear and compelling. We hope the report will provide a useful and timely guide for organizations looking to optimize the performance of their investments and meet decarbonization targets.”
Graeme Cooper, Head of Future Markets, Transport Decarbonisation at National Grid, said: “This project shows how important collaboration and the sharing of data around clean transport use is to developing not only the right charging infrastructure for the future but also the digital solutions that will help homes and businesses make the best use of it. We are pleased to have contributed our insight and data to the project and helped showcase solutions that will enable individuals and fleets to reduce loads on the grid while decarbonizing the charging process.”
“LEVL Telematics is proud to be supporting this initiative. The outcome has proven very worthwhile for our customers and for future customers, 15% reduction in CO2 emissions from charging is a game changer,” said Jan O’Hara, Director LEVL Telematics.
“The fast-growing demand for EVs requires an equally fast deployment EV charging infrastructure. WBCSD members are taking leadership and demonstrating concrete practices that maximize environmental benefits while mitigating the capital intensity, the social equity pitfalls and the growing electricity demand,” said Thomas Deloison, Director of Mobility, WBCSD.
The WBCSD Transport Decarbonization project gathers companies accelerating transport decarbonization and promotes data sharing and digitalization as core solutions for the transition to sustainable mobility. 15 of our member companies are building a data-sharing coalition to bolster new digital solutions for the transition to zero-emission mobility.
If you are interested in joining us or learning more about our work, please contact Esther Perrin, Associate, Mobility Digitalization.
