Convergys, Plug Smart partner for real-time EV charging data

Convergys and Plug Smart are teaming up to provide real-time rating, billing and data management support for electric vehicle charging stations.

The partnership pairs Zephyr, Plug Smart’s charging station technology, with Convergys’ “Smart Revenue” billing solutions for electric vehicle (EV) charging.

“The billing challenges utilities face in the wake of smart-grid technology and electric vehicles are not unlike those the telecommunications industry addressed in its early years,” sid Eran Ofir, general manager of global utilities for Convergys.

“The electric vehicle market is just starting to emerge,” said Richard Housh, president and CEO of Plug Smart. “Only limited standards have been established and transaction models have yet to be defined.

Zephyr is set to be deployed across the US this fall as part of a smart electric vehicle charging pilot involving several large utilities, universities and corporations. During the pilot, electric vehicle drivers will charge at 110-volt “smart sockets” and Zephyr will aggregate the data, enabling billing settlement, demand response and real-time pricing.

Convergys’ offerings are designed to help utilities manage challenges such as time-of-use and critical peak pricing. They also provide multi-party billing capabilities and real-time processing capabilities for instant authentication of users, as well as the delivery of prices and balances in real-time.