Geotab has launched a new electric vehicle solution, Geotab Energy, which is aimed to equip utilities and EV owners with advanced electricity demand management solutions to help overcome charging challenges.

Geotab Energy is focused on the electric utility and electricity demand management market, and offers products and services designed to support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) with electrical grid infrastructure, according to Geotab. By helping utilities understand, plan for and manage the integration of EV charging with the grid, Geotab’s new business unit seeks to ensure that EV owners can be supported by the key infrastructure that provides consumers with electric charging capabilities.

In addition, while Geotab Energy is first focused on helping utilities support EV owners, the company expects that as fleets become more electrified, the solution will also empower businesses operators to make smart decisions that can help to optimize operations on every level. 

“Simultaneously supporting the charging needs of EV drivers as well as the grid reliability needs of their respective utilities, is a key factor for EV adoption to thrive, and an area we’ve made a strategic decision to support,” said Eric Mallia, Vice President, Geotab Energy. “As with other Geotab solutions, we believe EV charging should be flexible, reliable and affordable — consumers should have the ability to charge their vehicles whether at home, work or elsewhere, without enduring unsustainable increases to electricity rates.” 

Geotab Energy is designed to help provide an accurate understanding of the impact of EV charging loads across a service territory by processing data directly from a vehicle’s internal systems and making it available via a “SmartCharge Rewards” web platform. SmartCharge Rewards helps electric utilities navigate and reduce the impact of EV charging on the grid, and helps to equip them with relevant EV-specific data to support new programs and possible infrastructure changes. 

Geotab Energy’s SmartCharge Rewards platform can also support utilities in identifying optimal charging times and then encouraging EV owners to charge during those times by providing customers with incentive-based rewards. 

Additionally, EV owners may benefit by gaining access to information about their EVs, such as insights into their driving efficiency as well as vehicle battery health, driving efficiency and more. 

Geotab Energy complements Geotab EV (a Geotab division), which specializes in providing telematics for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). Geotab EV currently aggregates and manages electric load data from more than 100 EV makes and models, and all EV charging methods. 

Geotab Energy is first launching in North America, with plans for future expansion. While Geotab Energy is first focused on helping utilities support EV owners, the company expects that as fleets become more electrified, the solution will also be used by businesses to optimize operations, the company said.