BMW, Ford and Honda Launch Chargescape Intended to Improve Grid Integration and Lower Charging Costs

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BMW, Ford, and Honda have officially launched their US joint venture and given it a name; ChargeScape. The purpose is to create a software platform that integrates electric vehicles with the power grid to support both grid stability and reduced charging costs. Here’s why that might be important news for electric MINI owners.

As more Americans transition to EVs, finding affordable charging solutions has become increasingly important, particularly for home charging, where around 80% of EV charging occurs. Meanwhile, the nation’s power grids face growing pressure due to rising electricity demands and the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources.

ChargeScape addresses these challenges by wirelessly connecting to electric vehicles and working with participating utilities to manage energy use in real-time. The platform adjusts charging based on grid conditions, reducing demand when necessary (smart charging or V1G) and even sending energy back to the grid when needed (V2G). This approach allows EV drivers to receive financial incentives for their flexibility while ensuring their vehicle is charged when they need it.

The platform builds on earlier work from the Open Vehicle-Grid Integration Platform (OVGIP), which has already partnered with utilities like Duke Energy, Xcel Energy, and Eversource Energy.

Chargescape Leadership Announced

ChargeScape’s first CEO, Joseph Vellone, has been appointed following the joint venture’s launch. With 15 years of experience in the energy and climate sectors, Vellone previously helped establish software start-up ev.energy’s presence in North America. Shaun Bugbee of BMW, the current ChargeScape Board Chairman, expressed confidence in Vellone’s experience with cleantech start-ups as a valuable asset to ChargeScape’s future success.

Vellone has previously worked at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in energy and environment consulting and holds degrees from Princeton University and the London School of Economics. He emphasized ChargeScape’s role in aligning EV energy demand with the nation’s renewable energy goals, aiming to make EVs an asset for the power grid.

ChargeScape’s new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Kalidindi Raju, brings over 15 years of experience in technology, including cloud architecture, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data engineering. Raju has held senior positions at Amazon, OATI, and other technology companies. He holds an MBA from Texas A&M International and a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (India).

Raju highlighted ChargeScape’s competitive edge through its partnerships with major automakers, providing utilities with secure and reliable optimization of EV charging.

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