Strategic Area
Transportation
Status
Completed
Partners
AddÉnergie
City of New Westminster
IBX Data Systems
Sun Country Highway
Fund
EVID: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration
Year
2018
Agreement Value
$1,791,000
Project Total
$4,123,480
Location
BC
Find out more
British Columbia Institute of Technology, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Lead Proponent
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Project Background
The goal of this project was to upgrade BCIT’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network Management System to support Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 2.0 compliance. This enhancement enables advanced network management capabilities such as centralized demand response, automated billing, and roaming functionality across networked EV chargers, thereby improving system interoperability, scalability, and user experience.
Results
This project reduced barriers to EV adoption by demonstrating innovative EV infrastructure solutions that are applicable to other charging networks.
The project showcased the following key solutions:
- Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP): Enabled seamless access for EV drivers to multiple charging networks across Canada and the U.S. through a unified platform.
- Load-Managed Charging Stations: Allowed utilities to dynamically manage and reduce peak energy demand, supporting grid stability.
- PCI-Compliant Payment System: Facilitated secure transactions via a third-party hosting provider, eliminating the need to store sensitive customer or credit card data.
Benefits to Canada
The project has strengthened the global competitiveness of Canadian EV vendors by supporting industry-standard protocols and enabling domestic data hosting. It has also improved interoperability across charging networks, reducing the need for drivers to maintain multiple accounts while traveling. Furthermore, the deployment of load-sharing and load-management solutions is expected to reduce infrastructure costs for Multiple Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs) and high-density urban parking facilities.
Next Steps
BCIT aims to continue to enhance the Canadian Smart Network Management System software by integrating support for the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) version 2.1. This will enable the platform to adopt the latest advancements in EV charging communication protocols.