Milestone: "Smart" Battery-charging Infrastructure in the Forthcoming Electric Vehicle (EV) Age

Electric vehicles (EVs) are attracting attention as clean vehicles that do not depend on fossil fuels and that are environmentally friendly, too. More EVs are being steadily used throughout the world. For a full-scale spread of EVs, however, maintenance of a battery-charging infrastructure is necessary. Quick charging stands must be installed throughout the country and an information network for their management and operation and for more convenient use of EVs and stands must be built. When information networks are built, standardization of communication interfaces to link various equipment and apparatus to such networks will become necessary. In Japan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and other organizations are sponsoring various demonstration test projects to standardize communication interfaces for systems related to environmental impact reduction. NEC is a member of one of these projects, the "Smart Network Project," and conducted demonstration tests for developing communication interface standards from November 2010 to the spring of 2011 in connection with building of a battery-charging infrastructure.

Aim of Demonstration Projects Promoted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

One of the characteristics of the battery-charging infrastructure for EVs is that charging stands can be installed in stores, ordinary private companies, public facilities, parking lots, private residences, and other places. An infrastructure that allows charging anywhere and anytime will be an advantage for EVs. For this purpose, charging stands should preferably be facilities that integrate an information network. This is because information services will become necessary for providing answers to questions such as "Where is the nearest charging stand?" "Is the stand occupied?" and "How do I pay for a charge?" These services will also be important for operators who will manage and operate quick chargers. These chargers must be a smart infrastructure fully utilizing ICT to link information from various digital equipment, sensors, and other devices and to integratedly control them. Specification setting and standardization of communication interfaces will be an important factor. The demonstration test projects kicked off by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and other bodies are tackling this theme.
The project launched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and other bodies is the "Project for Promotion of Standardization for Network Integration and Control System." Under this project, NEC and other private companies are contracted to conduct tests in the "Smart Network Project." Demonstration tests and participating companies are diverse, but can be grouped roughly into two groups, "Residence/EV Network" and "EV Support Network." What is the difference between these two groups?

"The Residence/EV Network Group conducts tests to achieve optimum control organically linking private residences installed with photovoltaic systems, EVs, home appliances, and others. Among various tests, the group also conducts tests to link indoor ICT and the fast, large-capacity mobile communication standard femtocell system and to collect and store history information of the residences themselves. On the other hand, the EV Support Network Group identifies issues involved in standardizing outdoor communication in the use of EVs. This task will involve a test on communication among charging stand management servers, test on the communication standard of car travel information in sharing of EVs like car sharing, and verification of the spread of quick chargers by 'visualizing,' integrating, and controlling energy demand and supply in office and business buildings," according to Mr. Mutsuo Nakajima, Director for International Standardization, Standardization Division, Global ICT Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Demonstration Test in Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 District

In the above "EV Support Network" project, NEC was tasked to conduct a test on communication among charging stand management servers in Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 district in November 2010. The scheme aims to realize remote operation of stands for different models and mutual authentication among stand operators in anticipation of future services required and needs to be met in future charging stand business. The scheme also aims to allow provisioning of information to upgrade user convenience.

"One area of expertise of NEC is cloud technology and NEC is good at network management and communication among servers. The test verified the ability to integrate and operate information from charging stands of multiple vendors and information on authentication, billing, operation, and maintenance supplied by management servers of the stand operators. Other tests include a test on a service to provide map information of charging stands to users through external servers. A total of 200 EV users used the service." (Kenichi Ishii, Principal Researcher, Service Platforms Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation)

In EV-related businesses, NEC Energy Devices, Ltd. in the NEC Group produces electrodes for high-performance lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for EVs. The Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, a joint venture company between Nissan Motor and NEC, produces lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which are already installed in Nissan's EV "Leaf." Takasago Ltd. has developed a rapid charger with high output of 20 to 50 kW. The charger keeps its electromagnetic radiation low and features a power efficiency of 90% or higher, a top-class performance in the industry. In the field of authentication and billing, NEC has supplied electronic money settlement systems by FeliCa noncontact IC cards and by magnetic cards, as well as securing IT solutions that handle personal information of members.

Japanese EV Infrastructure Standard for the Global Standard

The recent demonstration test by NEC has paved the way for standardization of communication among EV stand management servers. This is a step toward commercialization aside from conducting basic research.

"The maintenance of EV infrastructure is a global issue and a key to it will be the technology to build and operate an information network for it. NEC has necessary elemental technology and knows through testing what the future issues will be. This is why NEC is advocating a 'charging infrastructure by C&C Cloud' to both EV-related operators and EV users to globally expand business by having NEC recognized as a partner who creates value." (Ishii)

Japan has promised a significant reduction in greenhouse gases to the world. Building an EV-charging infrastructure is a mission as a leading country in reducing the environmental impact and in technology that uses ICT (information and communication technology). The project has demonstrated technological power for integrating and linking information and communication networks as a key element in the spread of EVs.

"I hope that the communication standard and know-how advocated and demonstrated by Japan will become a global standard. NEC possesses valuable technological assets in server management and operation technology with a focus on cloud technology. I hope NEC will actively take part in the future as part of Japan's ICT technological power recognized by the world." (Ibidem, Mr. Mutsuo Nakajima, Director for International Standardization)

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