IAA MOBILITY Voices - Conference Special
Interview with Hermann Stockinger (Founder & CEO of Easelink)
Easelink, headquartered in Graz, Austria, is a hightech company for the development of the automatedconductive charging solution Matrix Charging®. Easelink's patented Matrix Charging® technology is themost cost effective and energy efficient solution on the market for global automotive manufacturersand their Tier 1 suppliers. Through offices in Austria and China with over 45 employees, Easelink works with a number of lea ding automotive and infrastructure partners to deliver this technology in various application scenarios.
Easelink, headquartered in Graz, Austria, is a hightech company for the development of the automatedconductive charging solution Matrix Charging®. Easelink's patented Matrix Charging® technology is themost cost effective and energy efficient solution on the market for global automotive manufacturersand their Tier 1 suppliers. Through offices in Austria and China with over 45 employees, Easelink works with a number of lea ding automotive and infrastructure partners to deliver this technology in various application scenarios.
What does "Experience Connected Mobility" mean to you?
Connected Mobility. Being connected. In addition to the mobility function, electric vehicles also offer connectivity with energy systems. By always intelligently connecting electric vehicles with the energy system, regardless of their state of charge, you simultaneously create a battery storage system on 4 wheels. The connection of electric vehicles with the energy system is accompanied by a great potential for flexibility in dealing with volatile renewable energies.
What do you hope to achieve at IAA MOBILITY 2023?
As Easelink, we have developed Matrix Charging®, an interface technology between the vehicle & the infrastructure. Through our license-based business model, we rely on partnerships with leading companies from the automotive industry. The IAA is one of the most important events of the year for us to meet our cooperation partners as well as to lay the foundation for new partnerships. At IAA Mobility 2023, visitors of our booth will be able to experience automated charging with Matrix Charging®. This is the future of charging.
Which essential topic of the future receives too little attention from the public?
Connecting electric vehicles to the grid. The increasing number of electric vehicles must not lead to an overload of the energy supply. The goal must be to better integrate electric vehicles into the power grids and to intelligently control charging processes. Only if charging processes can be adapted to the grid load, the availability of renewable energy and the requirements of vehicle users can necessary and cost-intensive grid expansions be avoided in the future. However, this will only work if the cars are connected to the grid as often and for as long as possible, thereby providing sufficient flexibility for charging control. Automating the charging process ensures that the electric vehicle is connected to the grid during every parking period and that charging can be intelligently controlled over a longer period of time. This represents an important prerequisite for smart charging and the future use of the vehicle battery as buffer storage (vehicle to grid and vehicle to home applications). Only when the vehicles are connected to the grid can they be charged or discharged at the optimal time. For example, when there is a lot of solar power available or when electricity is to be fed back into the grid for other consumers.
In which area of mobility do you see the greatest potential and where do you see the greatest need to catch up?
On the one hand, there is great potential in the comprehensive expansion of charging infrastructure and, on the other hand, in the charging itself in the creation of more comfort, simplicity, and the preservation of accessibility in public spaces. With Matrix Charging®, we are pursuing the simple, efficient, and cost-effective charging of electric vehicles. Especially in terms of "charging experience," the automation of the charging process creates a great added value by not having to plug and unplug a dirty cable anymore. The vehicle is simply parked at the parking lot and connects fully automatically to the charging pad (Matrix Charging® Pad) at the parking lot. Another added value created by installing the charging pads directly in the parking lot surface in public space: accessibility is maintained and there are no more tripping hazards caused by cables hanging around.
IAA MOBILITY is the leading global mobility platform. It connects innovators from all spectrums of mobility. Who do you want to network with in September and why?
At IAA Mobility, we look forward to interacting with OEMs, Tier1s, cities & municipalities, charge point operators, suppliers, advocacy groups and many more. IAA Mobility offers a unique opportunity to do this.
The world is fundamentally changing. Innovation and also the endeavors in the mobility sector are bigger than ever before. What is your vision of the world in 20 years?
In 20 years, we will have achieved full connectivity between the mobility and energy systems. As mobile battery storage systems, electric vehicles have developed not only the "mobility function" but also the "flexibility for the power grid" function, which enables a complete supply from volatile renewable energies.