CROss-border Mobility for EVs (CROME)

Participating institutes

AIFB, Chair of Prof. Dr. Oberweis
Institute of Applied Informatics and Formal Description Methods (AIFB) (Prof. Dr. Andreas Oberweis)

The Business Information Systems research group headed by Professor Oberweis deals with methods, process models, and tools for business process engineering and service-oriented workflow management, different non-standard applications of business information systems, and applications of strategic business informatics planning and organization.

Within the CROME research project, AIFB-O deals with the conception and development of a standardized framework for IT-supported services. Based on that framework, the researchers want to provide uniform access to data-centered value-added services. Cross-border electric mobility depends on transparent, standardized services (localization, reservation, charging, paying, etc.) offered by different providers in Germany and France. Within the project, a standardized framework will be conceived and developed for use and provision of such services.

Staff:



AIFB, Chair of Prof. Dr. Schmeck
Institute of Applied Informatics and Formal Description Methods (AIFB) (Prof. Dr. Hartmut Schmeck)

The central topic of the Efficient Algorithms research group headed by Professor Schmeck at the Institute of Applied Informatics and Formal Description Methods is the development of methods for the efficient use of modern computer architectures for planning, improving, and executing information, business and manufacturing processes. Special attention is paid to multiply interconnected, adaptive systems which are capable of benefiting from self-organization. Their controllability and efficient use are major objectives of Organic Computing.

Within the CROME research project, AIFB-S examines different interfaces of services that improve the flexibility and user-friendliness of electric vehicles. Such services provide comprehensive assistance in the use of electric vehicles and can contribute to increasing the acceptance of the latter. They provide drivers of electric vehicles with important and valuable information concerning reach, charging possibilities, charging time and duration in cross-border traffic. The services are displayed and handled via different interfaces such as web applications or smart phones that are accessible already to the majority of users. However, the respective user interfaces so far have been largely static and cannot simply be adapted flexibly to the needs of different users. Mainly in view of the bilateral requirements of CROME, flexible personalization of the interfaces to individual users is of great importance and significantly influences the acceptance of the services.

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DFIU
French-German Institute for Environmental Research (DFIU) (Prof. Dr. Wolf Fichtner)

The major objective at the French-German Institute for Environmental Research is the techno-economic analysis of energy systems and flow patterns for materials and component substances for assessment of strategic and/or environmentally relevant issues. Both national or regional and industrial and household energy systems are investigated. The strategic issues dealt with traditionally include capacity upgrading and scheduling, technology and tool assessment as well as the development of emission reduction strategies.

Besides organizing CROME at KIT, DFIU analyzes all relevant processes in Germany and France in preparation of a user and acceptance analysis. Data from all processes e.g., pricing strategies and business cases, technical processes such as vehicle operation and charging, sociological processes such as acceptance development, must be collected to enable comprehensive studies of electric mobility. Special emphasis is placed on data that allow identification of the national peculiarities. The evaluation concept that provides the basis for collection of the data that will contribute to electric-mobility acceptance research and analysis uses different methods. During the duration of the project, 3 – 4 online polls are carried out among electric-vehicle drivers and fleet managers. Additional data provided by smart phones acting as data loggers complete the information gathered from the online questionnaires. Besides, interviews with electric-vehicle drivers as well as workshops with fleet managers are planned to obtain direct feedback on the use of electric vehicles. An ID assigned to the participating users and fleet managers allows to allocate the information from the different data sources and obtain a comprehensive overview of the use and acceptance of electric vehicles.

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FAST
Institute of Vehicle System Technology (FAST), Chair für Fahrzeugtechnik (Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Frank Gauterin)

Vehicle system technology deals with the analysis and optimization of the complex interactions between the mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic components of a vehicle, the interactions between vehicle surroundings, and the interactions between the driver and the vehicle. The Chair of Vehicle Technology compiles a comprehensive profound system understanding, interdisciplinary methods and processes for coping with the complexity in vehicle development, and technological approaches to improving the functionalities of the respective vehicles. Emphasis is placed on research into the entire vehicle, its electrical, hybrid and combustion engine driving and operating strategies, the driver’s perception and action, the behavior of users, driver assistance systems, surrounding traffic, chassis, tires, and roads.

For conclusive analyses, fleet vehicles are equipped with data loggers that automatically collect and transfer the measured data during driving operation. Based on this data, a standardized conclusive data sample is agreed on within CROME with the participating manufacturers and is transferred to the KIT for scientific assessment. This sample is extended by significant parameters obtained from direct surveys of users and from continuously measured sensor values compiled through an additional and specially developed survey using smart phones as data loggers. A special application is being programmed and enhanced for surveying and measuring. Based on the different data sources, a comprehensive study is also performed with a view to the technical particularities of the electric vehicles. That continuously compiled project data is the basis to generate extensive knowledge on the real everyday use of that new form of mobility.

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IEH
Institute of Electric Energy Systems and High-Voltage Technology (IEH) (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Leibfried)

The Institute of Electric Energy Systems and High-Voltage Technology is one of the oldest institutes of KIT with a rich heritage as a founding member of the faculty of electrical engineering. Until 1989, it was proudly known as the “High-Voltage Institute” with foundations dating back to the late 19th century. Its renaming characterizes the changes in its field of expertise and a new concentration of activities on electrical engineering. The competencies of the IEH are in the fields of electrical power systems and high-voltage engineering.

Within the CROME research project, IEH deals with the challenge of optimally integrating electrical mobility in existing distribution networks that have been evolving over decades. Presently, the distribution networks are hardly being loaded by electrical mobility. By 2020, however, this will have changed drastically. Hence, it is of high interest to collect experienced data of existing charging solutions and of the related techniques from the network point of view to be able to assess the respective consequences e.g. the required network expansion and impacts on the quality of power supply. Ever increasing power inputs from decentralized renewable-energy sources have shown that the mere transfer of effective power is crucial to the quality of supplies. A similar development is expected for charging infrastructures.

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ZAR
Center for Applied Law (ZAR) (Prof. Dr. jur. Thomas Dreier M.C.J.)

The Center for Applied Law is the umbrella organization for law at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). ZAR pools the jurisprudential activities of the entire KIT. One of its major pillars is the Institute for Information and Economic Law (IIWR). All law lectures within the university are held at ZAR and advice is given regarding legislative and regulatory projects. Moreover, ZAR informs the interested public about the latest legal developments and sensitizes citizens to new legal issues in order to encourage them to share the relevant socially acceptable solutions. In the recent years, the Chair of Professor Dreier at IIWR has achieved an excellent reputation in the area of electric mobility.

Within the CROME research project, ZAR deals with the analysis of standards for market communication in Germany and France and the deduction of recommendations for a harmonized European legal framework. Lawful cross-border market communication (e.g. billing) requires standardized data formats and regulatory guidelines for the respective communication processes as well as definitions concerning legally required non-functional aspects (evidentiary value, contractual relationships, etc.). Since the legal positions regarding integration of electric mobility in the energy market in Germany and France differ and since this is exemplary for all of Europe, European harmonization will be necessary.

 

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IfV
Institute for Transport Studies (IfV) (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Vortisch)

The Institute for Transport Studies (IfV) is concerned with topics in the transportation sector ranging from planning approaches in a wider social perspective to technical solutions in transportation planning. The interdisciplinary approach at IfV aims at organizing traffic in an efficient and sustainable way. This involves developing short-, middle- and long-term forecasts offering a global perspective of the interrelations of all available modes of transportation for persons, goods and information, which will then serve as a basis for planning scenarios in transportation infrastructure. Key themes at IfV are empirical mobility research (analysis of individual travel behavior and identification of underlying processes), transportation planning (development of microscopic agent based transport demand models) and transportation technology and telematics (measurement of traffic flow and modelling of car following behavior).

Within the research project CROME+, IfV will integrate and classify the usage patterns of electric vehicles determined in CROME into a person’s overall travel behavior. The German Mobility Panel (MOP) is an important source for input data: within the MOP, households are surveyed on their every-day travel behavior as well as their car usage. Additional input data for our work are the data generated in the CROME survey on the usage of electric vehicles and further existing empirical data on total travel demand. We aim at generating further knowledge for a quantification and classification of electric mobility within the total travel demand during the introduction and market penetration phase of electric vehicles. We will also analyze multimodal travel behavior as well as commuter traffic of potential EV users.

 

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