Overview
The importance of electric vehicles for infrastructure and environment is continuously growing. Yet, there are still deficiencies in the services concerning their daily use.
The collaborative project EmoTal develops innovative services for a convenient use of electric vehicles. By creating new incentives for the application of pedelecs and electric cars, the project wants to increase the enthusiasm for the vehicles and consequently promote their dissemination.
A growing use of electric vehicles benefits environment and transport - but the current disadvantages in the application of electric mobiles cause a reluctant dissemination. The collaborative project EmoTal concerns the development of new services in order to increase the appeal of using electric vehicles.
The design of these new concepts focuses on the user perspective. Essential for the conception and implementation of the services is the usage model developed by project coordinator Dr. Sigmund Schimanski (Research group Human Factors Engineering at the Bergische University Wuppertal). The Bergische Land represents a unique basis for examining the everyday use due to its challenging characteristics as a region with steep roads and its multitude of private electric vehicles. The user behaviour is examined by various analysis methods to achieve services that are customized to the current and potential drivers. Research in this exceptional testing environment provides representative insights into realistic usage conditions.
The usage model
The usage model developed by Dr. Sigmund Schimanski concentrates on the analysis of the different aspects of a product’s life as defined by its interaction with the user. Next to the initial purchase, the main key issues are the application, repair and end of use (recycling/disposal/resale). The usage model offers important insights into requirements, needs and wishes of the user. The results form the basis for the conception and implementation of the services developed by the collaborative project.
E-Training & Certification
Currently, there is hardly any alternative to dealer workshops regarding the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles. This usually leads to higher maintenance costs. Additionally, accidents with electric cars cause further problems for rescue and security services.
The data provided by the analysis of the regional reality of usage enables the collaborative project to develop special e-training/certification for repair shops and security organisations. By this, the operators and staff of local workshops are able to gain further qualifications regarding the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles, and consequently include the vehicles in their service offerings. Companies and electric vehicle owners both benefit from the new range of services.
The expanded qualification of security organisations effectively reduces manual handling risks in case of accidents and also increases the safety of professionals and persons on the site of an accident. Thereby the services developed by the project offer comprehensive advantages.
E-Fitness Bike / E-Bike-App
For commuter traffic – and therefore for humans and the environment – the increased application of bicycles represents a desirable alternative to the usage of cars. An appealing transport device is the pedelec, particularly in regions with a multitude of steep roads. But as its current application is restricted to supportive features, it is often associated with physical weakness and therefore rejected by (especially younger) target groups. In many places the bike route design also requires optimisation.
Consequently the development of an e-fitness bike is part of the collaborative project. In contrast to regular pedelecs, it is suitable for a variety of applications. Due to its fitness features for individual training, the user can either use it for assistance or as a sport device.
The app developed by the collaborative project contains versatile and helpful information for route planning, such as route recommendations including details about gradients and points of interest. The project partner Stadt Wuppertal already works on an extension of the bike route network, including the expansion of the Nordbahntrasse. Consequently, this parallel development further supports the purposes of the collaborative project.
The creation of new services in form of a versatile e-fitness bike and an app for individual route planning allows new attractive application opportunities with regard to sport and leisure activities.
Dynamic E-Insurances
Next to a charging infrastructure in need of expansion, and the operating range of electric vehicles, electric car drivers and service providers alike are confronted with additional insecurity concerning high costs caused by a difficulty in calculating insurance rates. As most independent repair shops are currently not able to treat electric vehicles (high voltage dangers, new aggregates and motors etc.), the costs for repair and maintenance are relatively high. This makes the insurance offers too expensive or unable to cover the related risk premium in the long term.
The project analyses current tariff structures and insurance models – for conventional as well as for electric vehicles – on the basis of the acquired data, classification and diversification parameter. Aggregation approaches, which allow an optimisation of the planning and evaluation situation for insurance models and tariff structures, are developed in this context. The structuring occurs without accessing sensible data.