22.5.2013
Today, Hrvatski Telekom presented at the MIPRO Conference in Opatija the ICT project MOBINCITY aimed at developing technological innovations that will contribute to a more extensive use of electric vehicles.
The project defines communication protocols through which electric vehicles will interact, also with all other traffic participants (transport infrastructure, public transport, energy infrastructure, other vehicles and vehicle users). The project also brings solutions for optimum route planning based on data collected in real time (weather, traffic, road conditions…) and in this way solves some of the problems that have so far prevented more extensive use of electric vehicles.
Part of the ICT solution that will be developed under the MOBINCITY project will be applied to energy efficiency in traffic, both in electric vehicles and for optimum planning of supplier and distributor energy needs.
The project is largely financed by the European Union within the EU program for financing research and technological development. The owner of the project is the Institute of Technology and Energy from Spain. Other parties that participate in the project are as follows: ITE, ETRA, Zabala Innovation Consulting and CIT Development from Spain, Fraunhofer Institut and Technomar from Germany, Elektro Ljubljana, Oprema Ravne, Etrel Svetovanje from Slovenia, ENEL and Conzorcio per la Rizerca nell Automatica e nelle Telecomunicazioni from Italy and Energetski institut Hrvoje Požar (Energy Institute) and Hrvatski Telekom from Croatia. HT has been recognized by the consortium members as a successful telecommunications and ICT company with expertise and resources necessary for participation in this project. HT joined the consortium at the invitation of the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar which had already been recognized as an equal partner to other members of the consortium and asked to join the project.
The project is divided into eight sub-units and HT participates in the parts referring to communication systems and project management. As for the communication systems within the MOBINCITY IT architecture, one should define communication systems for interaction between electric vehicles and transport infrastructure, between electric vehicles and public transport, and between electric vehicles and charging stations, i.e. the power grid. After definition of communication system requirements, reliable communication systems and interfaces should be designed which will receive various information from a number of sources. Within the part referring to project management, HT will participate in the development of a business model for the MOBINCITY project.
“I am pleased that Hrvatski Telekom has been recognized as a high quality and desirable partner in this innovative project. Our vision is to be the leading company which encourages development of the online society and digital economy in Croatia and the region and this very project is the proof that through cooperation between science and industry across Europe we can make a major step forward in the use of electric vehicles“, said Ivan Ivanković, expert for the development of new business areas of Hrvatski Telekom, who presented this project at the MIPRO Conference in Opatija.
The idea is that solutions developed within the MOBINCITY project are implemented as a standard within the whole EU, which means that e.g. the inhabitants of Zagreb will have the possibility to plan their trips to other European cities in the same way as they plan their trips in Croatia. In addition, users will get additional value when planning their trip in the form of suggestions (possible traffic congestions taking into account departure and arrival times, recommended routes in terms of energy saving and recommended charging stations with regard to energy price and user personal wishes). Users will be given suggestions during the trip, e.g. about traffic jams on their route, alternative routes etc. In this way, users will avoid problems they are faced with now during short and long trips.
The project started in mid 2012 and it is planned to last three years. The main idea behind the use of electric vehicles is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, to reduce CO2 emissions in comparison with conventionally fuelled vehicles with internal combustion engines and to reduce noise pollution.