BMW, Ford, and Honda said they will together create a new equally-owned company focused on optimizing electric vehicle grid services as part of an agreement announced on September 12.
“Electric grid reliability and sustainability are the foundation for an EV-powered future,” said Thomas Ruemenapp, Vice President of Engineering at BMW of North America, in a statement.
ChargeScape, as the new company is called, aims to create a profitable platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested EV customers in both the United States and Canada. The idea is to uncover new value that EVs can provide to the electric grid, while allowing EV customers to earn financial benefits via managed charging and energy-sharing services.
“ChargeScape aims to accelerate the expansion of smart charging and vehicle-to-everything solutions all over the country, while increasing customer benefits, supporting the stability of the grid and helping to maximize renewable energy usage,” said Ruemenapp.
In its news release, Honda said that ChargeScape will also play a role in helping to decarbonize the grid, such as reducing the personal carbon footprints of EV customers by having them use electricity that comes from renewable energy sources like wind or solar.
“With automakers accelerating toward the electrified future, we must find solutions like ChargeScape that enable all stakeholders to work together for the good of our customers, society and our industry by enabling greater use of renewable energy for and from mobility,” said Jay Joseph, Vice President of Sustainability & Business Development at American Honda Motor, in a statement.
