06/09/2010 (Nora Manthey)
The EnergyBus organization is working since 2007 to develop a standard for LEV components consisting of a high quality connector family to connect all electronic components of LEVs and the respective communication protocol. Since this year, the EnergyBus standard, the EBS if you like, made considerate progress, with a first set of connectors that is ready to go into production and the protocol in version 1.0 coming into its final shape. Not a minute too late, some might say, as the LEV market has seen ample growth in the last two years, while an universally applicable standard is still missing.
Why Standardization
A series of presentations and workshops earlier this year gave an outlook on why standardization is needed and what EnergyBus could mean for the LEV industry and its customers. If you look at standards that have only been developed in the late twentieth century, they all tell the same story of progress. The USB standard was developed 1996 but only kicked in, when Macintosh decided to use the USB (dropping its own ADB) for the then newly developed iMacs and later on all their computers. What followed was a revolution of simplicity and diversity. With one connection for all, digital cameras, printers, scanners, all sorts of devices could be plugged in one socket and communicate in one language. Instead of pumping money, time and knowledge into the development of communication protocols in different machine languages or connector design, the IT industry could concentrate on developing new functionalities and devices. The same is true for the mobile phone networks and its sim cards, or the car industry. Without a standardized tank, one might only fill its Mercedes at Mercedes gas stations, but not at the ones for Toyota. Cars would probably have never become (and remained till today) the most commonly used means of individual transport.
LEV Industry
However true the advantages of standardization might be for other industries, they seem to have not yet reached the LEV market. Today, five global players are offering complete drive system solutions and a few others experiment with their own motor systems, all using their unique "standards". This means that you either have too choose (and bind yourself to) one of the existing options or invest time and money in developing your own. With one standard for LEV components, one could focus instead on new niche markets, trends and innovative functionalities of the vehicles or components.
EnergyBus Standard (EBS)
The EnergyBus organization is devoted to the development of a standard accessible and easily adaptable for everyone. In the future, all components of a LEV will be using the same connector standard and communicate in the same language to transfer information like voltage and check their interoperability self-reliantly, if EBS is implemented that is. This means not only more safety – a battery for example will not catch fire, because the charger knew that it is too powerful and did not charge the battery – but it means innovation and freedom of choice. Imagine all component manufacturers using one standard, enabling the vehicle makers to choose among all available components not worrying about interoperability or costly developing standards on their own.
Public Responsibility
Only lately, cities and communities are starting to see pedelecs and e-bikes not only as new means of transport, but a chance for public transport. Rental schemes have been developed, but were always faced with the same problem: power. Existing charging stations are focused on one kind of vehicle using the same battery, not taking into account, that if you want to spread the use of electric transports, you will need to enable citizens to charge or exchange their accumulators anywhere and at any time and without limiting their freedom of choice. A standard like EnergyBus will make docking stations for various vehicles possible. Only one connector type, using different voltage, would be needed and people could charge their different pedelecs, e-bikes and even e-scooters safely, when and wherever they want. This could make Light Electric Vehicles an even more integral part of a sustainable future of mobility.
>>To find out more about standardization and EnergyBus connect here (PDF)
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