Challenge
All Together Now
In Ukraine, the lack of advanced billing and green energy management is weakening the case for electric cars. Each EV charging point owner has their own way of billing for services so, confusingly, drivers have to juggle several different billing and service options.
EV registration is growing; however, most of the electric cars are aftermarket, including a sizeable electric taxi population. So, the logistics and repair companies that support Ukraine’s aftermarket economy are vital for the continued growth of EV adoption.
Solution
Powerful Networking Opportunities
Recognizing the lack of standardization and manufacturer support, an EV sale-and-repair business partnered with Luxoft to develop a solution. The result is an SaaS-style platform that simplifies the process of becoming a CPO, making operations more profitable, and the customer experience more enjoyable.
Using an agile approach to software development for distributed, green energy resource management, Luxoft researched and designed a foundational platform for an EV charging infrastructure in Ukraine. The project incorporated open source software, plus prototyping to gain client approval for the user-friendly interface.
Either cloud-based or on-premise (Open Charge Point Protocol [OCPP] network standards apply), the platform integrates a payment system with charging point management; an effective method of charging electric cars and keeping independent CPOs profitable.
Main features:
For management:
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Create an EV charging network
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Manage the charging station, users and bookings in a flexible manner
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Maintain the system and resolve faults
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Develop a matrix of electric cars versus
charging port capacity
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Oversee roles and permissions
For EV drivers:
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Register an electric car
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Organize a payment wallet
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Book a charging port
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Locate a station and plan the route
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Find a free port at the station
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Charge the EV using the application
or ID-card authorization
Result
Electrifying Benefits for Owners and Customers
Electric vehicle registration in Ukraine grew by 58% (3,185 vehicles) in the first 6 months of 2019. Organic, EV-economy growth of this kind nurtures the research, design, engineering and standardization of software that Luxoft teams are addressing with this platform.
The value of this software research is evidenced by the drive and enthusiasm of the venture’s principal players: the sales-and-repair companies that form the spine of the EV support infrastructure.
Investing in optimizing the charging-point user experience via human-centered design is an important contributor to wider electric car adoption. In turn, the improved flexibility and optimized system maintenance of EV charging platforms deliver significant savings in both time and cost.
Advanced booking facilities, together with charging time calculation for specific electric cars, provide outstanding charging station benefits for customers and optimized usage patterns for business owners. The main benefits are as follows:
For software licensee:
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User, profit and discount management
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EV charging network maintenance and
management
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Tariff and fee management
In general:
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Activity tracking
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Budget management
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Statistics extension
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Advanced notification
Software development decisions depend on several complex factors but, importantly, research for early stage solutions is focused on the user. In Ukraine, electric car drivers simply want to find a charging station quickly, safe in the knowledge that they will be able to access and pay for the charge without hassle.
Enable Your Digital Advantage
Luxoft consultants and engineers draw on a wealth of top-tier industry and technology expertise built up over many years of leading the design and delivery of modern digital solutions. Reach out now and learn how you can partner with Luxoft to develop the right technology for even your most ambitious digital projects.