AmpUp, a leader in intelligent electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, has officially confirmed positive initial results for its Adapt program in the context of lowering grid demand three times more efficiently than a standard peaker plant during recent heat waves.
According to certain reports, the stated program was able to successfully integrate shared and public Level 2 EV chargers into grid services, and therefore, balance energy demand, while simultaneously enhancing the charging experience for EV drivers.
More on the same would reveal how, developed through the Connecticut Innovative Energy Solutions (IES) Program, the Adapt program happens to be a statewide initiative which identifies, pilots, and scales innovative ideas for a decarbonized, affordable, and equitable electric grid.
You see, the underlying approach makes it possible for AmpUp to strategically pause charging sessions during peak grid hours (primarily 4 PM – 8 PM), in collaboration with one of Connecticut’s largest electric and gas utility providers. The program in question will be operational, at launch, across a diverse set of commercial locations, including multifamily housing, workplaces, hospitality, and public parking.
“I like that the program didn’t interrupt my routine since I usually charge overnight,” said Laura Schwartz, a participating Adapt driver. “Starting the charge just a little bit later didn’t impact me, and I still earned credits for charging as usual.”
Talk about the whole value proposition on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the promise of greater driver participation. This translates to how EV drivers can deploy AmpUp to seamlessly shift their charging sessions away from peak periods and get instantly rewarded with digital wallet credits.
Markedly enough, the whole mechanism doesn’t mandate any third-party app integration, and as for credits, they can be used for future charging sessions.
Next up, we have a feature in place for monetizing site host. As commercial property owners are compensated for making their charging infrastructure available for grid services, it effectively unlocks new revenue streams with zero administrative effort. We can say the latter part because you don’t need to enroll or submit data to earn your incentive.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in an aspect committed to intelligent load management. Here, the program banks upon the prowess of real-time data and predictive analytics to optimize charging schedules and mitigate peak demand.
Then, there is the potential to access an open network which, on its part, ensures seamless integration, compatibility, and control of a wide range of EV charging hardware across 183 locations and nearly 1,000 compliant ports.
Beyond that, we must also touch upon the availability of granular control and automation. These components basically allow for utilities to define targeted demand response events with automated incentive management.
Complementing the same would be a robust integration and monitoring facility that really goes the distance to facilitate seamless data exchange with existing utility systems, and at the same time, provide comprehensive real-time visibility into program performance.
Turning our attention towards all what Adapt program was able to achieve during its early deployment, it successfully shifted 5,450 kWh from peak demand to off-peak hours across more than 650 charging sessions. The idea here was to ease grid strain and reduce reliance on high-emission peaker plants. For better understanding, it was all done at a cost of less than $0.50 per kWh, which is more than three times cheaper than the average peaker plant costs during a heat wave.
The deployment further observed high participant satisfaction. More than 85% of participating drivers essentially rated the program positively, validating the driver-centric incentive model as a key to engagement.
In case that wasn’t enough, the program also achieved unparalleled day-to-day and hour-to-hour visibility into location-level performance, marking a critical advantage over traditional managed charging programs.
“The Adapt program’s success in Connecticut proves that we can effectively manage EV charging loads to support grid stability without compromising the driver experience,” said David Jackson, COO of AmpUp. “We’ve demonstrated a robust, scalable solution that offers real-time grid benefits and happy EV drivers. This is a game-changer, offering utilities across the country a proven model to integrate public and shared EV charging into their demand-side management strategies, enabling a more resilient and sustainable energy future.”
