Oslo2Rome - Wrap Up

3 Questions For MotionWerk

Why are you participating at the Oslo2Rome inititative?

As MotionWerk Ltd, we develop blockchain-based software solutions for the mobility sector.

With the Oslo2Rome Initiative, we want to show that e-mobilists can travel around Europe with the so-called “e-mobility wallet” in order to test a cross-border charging network based on blockchain technology. Together with our partners Elaad, Enexis Group, enviaM, Fortum, innogy, Sodetrel with EDF Lab and Èlectricité de Strasbourg and VKW we have been testing this virtual purse in the last weeks. Through this, we want to solve the present problem of complicated billing processes for charging options, especially when travelling abroad.

This means, we are not participating at the Oslo2Rome Initative as a driver, but we enable our partners to be a part of the Pan-European tour. We want to examine how a European charging network based on blockchain can be put into operation, and also, taking a close look at which functions are important to users. From our perspective, this “is a big step towards a cooperative, decentralised charging network that reaches beyond the borders of individual companies and indeed entire countries,” says Dietrich Sümmermann, CEO of MotionWerk.

How developed is emobility in your country?

From climate change through the establishment of new markets to the reduction of the dependency of fossil fuels; this show the high importance of the topic of e-mobility which offers a lot of potentials.

Electric vehicles are a major part that can contribute to the energy transition. Nevertheless, it is also evident that the constant extension of charging infrastructure and the simple access to charging options is indispensable to support the e-mobility market growth on the one hand, and promote the increased distribution of electric vehicles on the other hand.

At the end of 2017, Germany has around 8000 publicly accessible charging stations. (https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/460234/umfrage/ladestationen-fuer-elektroautos-in-deutschland-monatlich/)  This figure shows that there is definitely space for improvement. Right here, we want to provide instruments and tools for humans and corporates by offering the chance to contribute to the future of mobility actively.

Tell us something about your business and your current efforts around emobility?

Our first product, Share&Charge, was introduced to the German market in May 2017. At present, the project is in its pilot phase in several European countries as well as in the US. Share&Charge facilitates the effortless sharing and billing of electric charging stations, equally effective for private and corporate partners. By involving private charging stations, the e-car driver gets access to charging stations that would not be accessible without Share&Charge. For the charging station operator, whose charging pole is not in use most of the time, Share& Charge offers the possibility to contribute to the topic of e-mobility and, on the other hand, recoup the investment costs of his or her charging station.

Oslo2Rome Tour Wrap Up

The Oslo2Rome initiative was an experiment set out to test and prove the possibility of a single e-charging network across all of Europe based on Blockchain technology. The project was in collaboration with seven strong partners across five different countries and featured teams crossing borders into neighbouring countries and testing the e-charging network along the way. The teams travelled around Europe with the so-called “e-mobility wallet” in order to test this charging network, aided by the combined efforts of MotionWerk, Elaad, Enexis Group, enviaM, Fortum, innogy, Sodetrel with EDF Lab and Èlectricité de Strasbourg and VKW.

Since the Oslo2Rome initiative is based on decentral Blockchain technology, people were able to follow the progress of the tour including information such as the gasprice, the number of blocks involved as well as the time until the transaction was processed by the Blockchain. This information can be found on the following link:
https://shareandcharge.com/en/oslo2rome_blockchain/

The tour commenced on the 27th of November and ran over the space of four days until the 30th of November. Below is a detailed description of each route from the tour.

27.11.2017 ElaadNL / Enexis Groep

Amsterdam – Arnhem – Essen

The Dutch Oslo2Rome team consisted of Jan-Peter Doomernik of Enexis, Arjan Wargers of ElaadNL and e-mobility enthusiast and trend watcher Vincent Everts. The team were interested in the Blockchain solution and were excited to test the interoperability of the charging network as they crossed borders into Germany. Starting in Amsterdam the team was powered by a Tesla Model X that also included a rear trailer that housed an electric motorcycle. The team made their way to the ElaadNL research lab in Arnhem, where they were able to show off the electric powered motorcycle. The tour continued over the border into Germany where they finished in Essen and were met by the Motionwerk Team to test the charging network.

28.11.2017 / 29.11.2017 enviaM

Chemnitz – Regensburg – Nußdorf

The enviaM Oslo2Rome team consisted of e-mobility specialist Sven Haase and camera operator Oliver Göhler, who documented every part of the tour. The enviaM tour route crossed borders from Germany to Austria, starting in Chemnitz, Germany. The pair had a slight delay to the start of their tour with battery issues but after this was resolved it was smooth driving to the designated stop in Regensburg. After fully recharging with our Share&Charge app on the Blockchain, the team then crossed borders into Austria and were greeted by the VKW team in Nußdorf. At their accommodation, the team encountered a slight technical problem with the loading process but with the help of colleagues from VKW and Motionwerk this issue was quickly resolved.

29.11.2017 / 30.11.2017 VKW

Lochau – Weißensberg – Konstanz – Tittisee Neustadt – Freiburg – Mullhouse

The VKW team consisted of Nadine from Innovation Lab and Michael from VKW VLOTTE, who participated in the Oslo2Rome tour by driving from Austria through Germany and into France. The team started in Bregenz, Austria and set off in their BMWi3 for Meersburg, Germany. It was here the team had the help of a ferry to transport them directly across the beautiful Lake Constance. The first recharge of the trip was in Constance and everything ran smoothly, with a successful connection between the app and the charger whilst the team enjoyed lunch. The team made their way to Titisee-Neustadt and again recharged smoothly, then set off to the final destination in Mulhouse, France, where members from the ÈS team were waiting.

29.11.2017 / 30.11.2017 EDF, ÈS & Sodetrel

Nancy – Metz – Saarbrücken – Saverne – Strasbourg – Offenburg – Freiburg-en-Brisgau – Colmar – Pfastatt – Selestat

The EDF, ÈS and Sodetrel team consisted of three cars: The first, a Renault Zoe from EDF driven by Laurent Perez and Jonathan Klein. The second car was also a Renault Zoe from ÈS driven by Bernard Bloch and Julien Brodier. The third car was a Tesla driven by Pierre Simon and Laurent Schaeffer. Their Oslo2Rome route takes the team across the border from France into Germany. The team started in Nancy and had initial problems with the charger connecting to the Blockchain but after this was resolved, the team made their way to Saarbrücken where they again recharged. From there, the team set off to Strasbourg, where they finished their first day, arriving late at night. Day Two saw the team leave again for the German border heading to Freiburg-en-Brisgau where the Innogy team was waiting to greet them. After successfully charging the team set off for Mulhouse France where they were met by the VKW team who had arrived from Austria.

30.11.2017 Fortum

Oslo – Töcksfors – Karlstad

The Fortum Oslo2Rome team consisted of the two drivers: communications specialist Stian Mathisen and analyst Tobias Goodden. As well as press chief Per-Oscar Hedman and R&D manager Catarina Naucler who awaited their arrival in Karlstad. The team had the Nordic route of the tour taking them from Oslo, Norway to Karlstad, Sweden. Braving the sub-zero conditions the team initially charged in Oslo however due to a problem with the plug socket the team was unable to use the scheduled charging station. After finding an alternative charger the team set off for Töcksfors near the Swedish border. A quick lunch stop and recharge at a C&D charger the team headed to Karlstad. Here they greeted by Per-Oscar and Catarina and were able to finally test the charging network. The charging station completed a successful charging session and everything connected smoothly.

Overall, every team was able to successfully arrive at their intended final destination with the use of the Share&Charge “OSlo2Rome” app and the Blockchain-integrated charging poles. This is a real testament to all of our partners as each partner had to face tough conditions to make it to their final destination, with either cold and snowy weather conditions or other issues involving the backend and hardware. Although there were a few issues over the Oslo2Rome initiative, we can see that the concept of having a single e-charging network across all of Europe based on Blockchain technology is certainly possible and encouraged by the participants.

Unlike conventional cars with internal combustion engines, stopping to refuel e-cars across Europe is not always as easy. Currently the extensive range of charging options complicates the associated billing process especially when travelling abroad. MotionWerk utilised the Oslo2Rome initiative to solve this problem by testing – in cooperation with its partners Elaad, Enexis Group, enviaM, Fortum, innogy, Sodetrel with EDF Lab and Èlectricité de Strasbourg and VKW – a shared Blockchain-based e-mobility wallet, a kind of virtual purse. By utilising a Blockchain based e-mobility wallet, energy suppliers are able to reduce the roaming effort associated with the billing process when users charge internationally. This is a big step towards the concept of having a cooperative, decentralised charging network that reaches beyond the borders of individual companies and entire countries.

Due to its open infrastructure, the Blockchain technology at work in the Oslo2Rome project enabled users to charge their vehicles at every participating charging station without ever having to take into account the provider and his or her terms and conditions.

With a single e-mobility wallet, travellers were able to make use of all charging options offered by our partners and choose freely from a range of payment methods. They were also able to view their transaction details at any stage of the process. As well as this, since the information is saved and verified by Blockchain technology, no single provider can gain exclusive control of the many charging points. On the contrary, the continuous synchronisation of all customer information ensures data security while creating an open infrastructure with an impressive range of rates and conditions. Thus, MotionWerk and its seven partners have taken a significant step forward, with a view to maximising the advantages of Blockchain-based networks.

In reviewing the Oslo2Rome Tour this week, we got inspiring insights from all of our partners. If you haven’t read them yet, you can find details of each partner’s experiences and impressions on the Oslo2Rome tour on our already published blog posts.

From all the photos shared on our blog and on social media it is clear that the Oslo2Rome initiative was a great experience for everyone involved. For us, it has also been a rewarding experience to see that our vision of establishing a European charging network based on Blockchain can be put into action. We are still motivated and keen on contributing to the future of mobility and being part of the energy transition and provide an extensive charging infrastructure by involving private charging pole operators to increase the offer of publicly accessible charging poles.

Thanks again to all partners for your vivid contribution and actually driving around with the electric vehicles.

By | 2018-02-22T10:45:39+00:00 December 4th, 2017|Comments Off on Oslo2Rome - Wrap Up

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