EV charging stations
JOANNEUM RESEARCH Presents Carsharing Flexibility at STS Conference Graz
Between May 4 and 6, 2026, our partner JOANNEUM RESEARCH (JR) represented the OPENTUNITY project at the STS Conference Graz 2026 in Austria. Organized by the Graz University of Technology, this event is a cornerstone for the scientific community to discuss the intersections of Science, Technology, and Society.
The Focus: Can Carsharing Support Grid Flexibility?
The core of JR’s participation was the presentation of their latest research titled: “Shared cars, flexible charging: When cost savings meet additional effort”. The study addresses a fundamental challenge in the energy transition: how to manage the volatility of renewable energy by utilizing the inherent flexibility of electric vehicles (EVs).
The research specifically explores whether integrating flexibility into a carsharing business model (such as the one operated by our partner Avant car in Slovenia) is viab
le from both a technical and social perspective.
Key Insights: Flex On-the-Go vs. Flex at Home
The study, based on a survey of over 950 Avant car customers, analyzed two main scenarios for flexible charging:
- Flex on-the-go: Charging the rented vehicle at suggested points during the trip to support the grid.
- Flex at home: Taking the rented vehicle home and allowing it to be charged flexibly overnight.
The findings were revealing:
- Motivation: Cost savings remain the primary driver for users (over 85% interest), followed by a desire to support sustainability and the energy transition.
- Barriers: For many users, the "additional effort" is a significant hurdle. Many feel that since they are paying for a mobility service, they do not want the extra complexity of managing charging schedules.
- Feasibility: The research suggests there is no "quick win," but flexibility models can succeed if cost savings are high enough and the additional effort for the user is kept to an absolute minimum.
Scientific Exchange and Future Outlook
For the OPENTUNITY project, participating in the STS Conference was a "great opportunity for exchange between applied research and colleagues with a more academic approach". This collaboration with Avant car allowed the team to access real-world field data, reducing sampling bias and ensuring that the project's innovations are grounded in actual user behavior.
By exploring these social and technical boundaries, OPENTUNITY continues to pave the way for a more integrated and decarbonized European electricity ecosystem.
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Resources for Download
You can access the full technical details and the results presented at the conference through the following links:
📥 [Download the Presentation Slides] (PDF)
Driving Smarter EV Infrastructure: Avantcar and SETUP’s Data-Driven Journey
From Data to Insight: Understanding EV Charging Patterns
In collaboration with Kolektor SETUP, Avantcar embarked on a transformative software development initiative over the past nine months, revolutionizing the management and optimization of EV charging stations. This innovative project aimed to collect critical measurement data and develop baseline forecasts, laying the foundation for smarter, more sustainable energy management within Avantcar’s charging network.
At the start of 2024, SETUP delved into analyzing measurement data from Avantcar’s EV charging points, uncovering usage patterns that revealed key insights. During January and February, the team identified various EV charger types, conducted essential communication tests, and dissected data from a “typical week.” Peaks in charging activity were mapped to morning, midday, and afternoon hours, with distinct differences observed between workdays and non-workdays. This data served as the basis for evaluating the system's capacity to manage peak power demands effectively.
Figure 1: Example of data analysis of AVA’s charging points.
Forecasting the Future: Advanced Algorithms for Energy Management
The next phase advanced the project by leveraging sophisticated forecasting techniques. Using diverse features—including season, month, hour, workday/non-workday status, temperature, and precipitation—three advanced algorithms were tested: Random Forest Regressor, LightGBM, and Histogram-Based Gradient Boosting Regression Tree (HGBRT). All three achieved impressive results, with a ~5% normalized Mean Absolute Percentage Error (nMAPE). HGBRT emerged as the preferred model, thanks to its consistent accuracy and robust performance.
This collaboration underscores the power of data-driven insights in shaping the future of EV infrastructure. By integrating advanced analytics and predictive modeling, Avantcar and SETUP are not only enhancing energy efficiency but also paving the way for smarter, more reliable EV charging solutions that align with evolving consumer needs and environmental goals.
Figure 2: Avantcar fleet
Integration of Avantcar’s EV charging stations and Amibit’s HEMS devices with Kolektor sETup’s aggregator platform
Integration of Avantcar’s EV charging stations and Amibit’s HEMS devices with Kolektor sETup’s aggregator platform
10/05/2024
Kolektor sETup’s is an independent aggregator specialising in the optimisation of flexibility asset portfolios and the provision of ancillary services to Slovenian DSOs and a TSO. A primary focus of Kolektor sETup’s endeavors is to introduce innovative approaches to ancillary service provision, leveraging fleets of, for example, EV charging points or home energy management systems (HEMS) devices rather than utilising solely individual, larger flexibility assets such as diesel generators. This objective is integral to the OPENTUNITY innovation initiative, driving forward our commitment to pioneering solutions in the energy sector.
Over the past six months, Kolektor sETup has been fully immersed in integrating Avantcar’s fleet of EV charging stations and Amibit’s HEMS devices fleet with its aggregator platform. This process began with the seamless integration of a single EV charging station and a single HEMS device to test the monitoring and management capabilities of these individual devices. With the successful validation of this initial integration, Kolektor sETup swiftly progressed to integrate over 70 EV charging stations and more than 50 HEMS devices into its aggregator platform.
Real-time consumption data from both fleets is now systematically collected and securely stored within the databases of Kolektor sETup’s aggregator platform. With the completion of the integration phase, Kolektor sETup has initiated the data collection period, paving the way for the subsequent development of forecast algorithms tailored to each fleet. These algorithms will serve as the foundation for offering ancillary services, marking a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to innovate and optimize within the energy sector.
