BSM has determined the innovation processes that will enable the development of flexible, low-cost charging points to be initiated to boost the expansion of electromobility in the city. The two projects stem from a public tender issued within the InnovAcció 2030 programme, a joint initiative of the Barcelona City Council 2030 Agenda Commission and BSM that aims to find innovative solutions to advance the 2030 Agenda and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The expansion of electromobility is precisely one of the challenges in moving towards a sustainable, zero-emissions mobility model. In the city of Barcelona, BSM’s electromobility network, Endolla Barcelona, is one of the main strategies for supporting citizens in their transition to electric vehicles.
With 720 points distributed throughout the city, Endolla Barcelona concentrates 75% of the charging points in BSM parking facilities to prioritise sustainable, planned charging during off-peak hours freeing up public space for other uses.
The two projects have been chosen via a public innovation tender promoted by BSM. They are expected to be implemented through pilot tests in the BSM parking network during the first half of 2024. The total budget for the execution of the two proposals is 160,000 euros.
A charging point capable of moving to other parking spaces
The first project of this innovation challenge is implementing a mobile electric vehicle recharging point that can be moved and thereby cover several parking spaces rather than being fixed to a single location. The call to the sector aims to develop a point that can cover several parking spaces consecutively.
In addition, the mobile point must be able to communicate with Endolla Barcelona's central management system and interact with users via the SMOU app. This challenge has a budget of approximately €90,000 for the development of a prototype.
The company chosen to lead this challenge was EV Safe Charge, a California-based start-up that offers solutions for the rapid charging of electric vehicles. The company has designed ZiGGY, a mobile, robotic electric vehicle charger, a preliminary project from which the solution to the InnovAcció 2030 programme challenge will be developed to meet BSM's specific needs.
A low-cost and easy-to-maintain charging point
The second electromobility challenge proposed developing a new concept for a low-cost and easy-to-maintain electric vehicle charging point. Specifically, five prototypes will be manufactured at a lower cost than at present to evaluate their performance and feasibility.
The awardee is a Catalan spin-off of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC - Barcelona TECH), teknoCEA, which supplies customised power electronics components, systems and services to companies and laboratories.
Considering that one requirement was to stay below €400 per point, teknoCEA has proposed a project for charging points that cost less than €250. This represents a reduction of approximately 80% on the current cost of the points. The challenge has a development budget of approximately €70,000.
Both the mobile charging point and the five low-cost charging points will be tested with real Endolla Barcelona users during the first half of 2024 at the BSM Plaça Navas - Paral·lel parking area, where BSM plans to carry out various pilot tests for mobility innovation projects.