Synop understands the obstacles faced by auto original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as customers transition toward EV fleets and offers a game-changing, white-label software solution to optimize EV charging and energy management.
In the competitive auto industry, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) face the challenge of managing the transition to EVs while operating within tight profit margins and a changing business model. Synop understands the needs of the OEM and offers a game-changing solution through its white label charging and energy management software platform. By partnering with Synop, auto OEMs can seamlessly provide their end-fleet customers with charging and energy management solutions as commercial fleets scale electric vehicle (EV) operations.
White label advantage
One of the key advantages of Synop software is that it can be white labeled for auto OEMs to bundle with the vehicle sale and/or incorporate into their existing platforms, effectively expanding their product line. By leveraging Synop's cutting-edge software, auto OEMs can provide seamless and efficient EV charging and energy management solutions to their customers who are transitioning to electric fleets. This strategic move supports auto OEMs to position themselves as leaders in the electrification journey, capturing a larger piece of revenue while also maintaining a touchpoint with the end-fleet customer after the vehicle sale. Through Synop's white label approach, auto OEMs can incorporate the Synop software into their own brands, which extends their reach and enables them to connect with customers across various channels. By putting their names on Synop's software, auto OEMs can establish themselves as providers of innovative and technologically advanced solutions for EV fleets, further enhancing their reputation and customer trust in the industry.
Reducing costs
By adopting Synop's software, auto OEMs can also significantly reduce costs and resource allocation. Building software in-house can be a complex and expensive endeavor, requiring substantial investments in research, development, and hiring specialized talent. However, by partnering with Synop, auto OEMs can leverage the expertise of Synop's in-house experts in EV charging and energy management solutions. This collaboration not only eliminates the need for in-house software development but also allows auto OEMs to benefit from the accumulated knowledge and experience of Synop's team.
Advantages for EV fleets
Synop offers auto OEM customers with EV fleets a range of powerful software solutions that optimize charging and energy management. With deep integrations, real-time data and control capabilities, and interoperability, Synop empowers EV fleets to choose the best components for their fleets and maximize flexibility. The comprehensive charging, vehicle, and energy management solutions provided by Synop enable efficient infrastructure management, informed decision-making, and cost reduction. Whether it's school bus electrification, port electrification, package delivery, or other commercial EV fleet applications, Synop's tailored support ensures reliable operations and maximum efficiency. By partnering with Synop, auto OEM customers can streamline and scale their EV fleet operations. Click here to learn more about Synop solutions for commercial EV fleets.
Are you an auto OEM ready to rEVolutionize your offering?
Synop's white label charging and energy management software solutions offer significant value to auto OEMs with customers transitioning their fleets to EVs. By incorporating Synop's software into their product line, auto OEMs can expand their offerings, differentiate themselves in a competitive market, and strengthen their brand identity.
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A quick overview of how Synop software solutions can revolutionize your commercial EV fleet operations by exploring the features of the platform, highlighting the products and services, and showcasing how Synop serves various commercial EV fleets.
At Synop, our mission is to accelerate the transition to electric vehicle (EV) fleet electrification by seamlessly connecting vehicles, chargers, and the grid through software. In this blog, we will review how our solutions can revolutionize your commercial operations by exploring the features of our platform, highlighting our products and services, and showcasing how we serve various EV fleets.
Features of Synop software for EV fleets:
Our deep integrations result in real-time data and control to support commercial EV fleets, while our interoperability ensures seamless integration for various chargers, vehicles, and utilities, empowering you to choose the best components for your fleet and maximize flexibility in your operations. Here are the highlights of our software.
Products and services for EV fleets:
With Synop, you gain powerful software solutions to effortlessly organize, monitor, and manage your charging and fleet operations. Connecting chargers and vehicles, as well as assigning roles and permissions to users, is a breeze, ensuring optimal control and security. Here are the key products and services we offer EV fleet operators.
EV fleets of all types:
From school bus electrification to port electrification and package delivery, our tailored solutions ensure reliable operations and maximum efficiency for commercial EV fleets. We serve a wide range of fleets, offering support for efficient charging infrastructure and intelligent energy management across multiple sectors.
Are you ready to rEVolutionize your commercial EV fleet?
Synop is here to empower you with comprehensive solutions that optimize charging and energy management, ensure interoperability, and cater to diverse EV fleet types. Streamline and scale your EV fleet operations, and save costs through optimized charging and energy management. Together, let's pave the way for a more sustainable future!
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A combination of recent data, proposed legislation, and Synop's advancements in virtual power plants (VPP) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities have strengthened my belief that we are making significant progress in replacing peaker plants as the primary source of easily dispatchable generation.
A combination of recent data, proposed legislation, and Synop's advancements in virtual power plants (VPP) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities have strengthened my belief that we are making significant progress in replacing peaker plants as the primary source of easily dispatchable generation. For context, V2G is a subset of VPP capabilities that encompass various grid services, including V1G and others. These services involve controllable loads and distributed generators contributing to the balancing of electricity supply and demand. Traditionally, peaker plants primarily powered by natural gas were employed for this purpose, but they generate higher emissions compared to a VPP consisting of loads powered by clean energy sources, such as solar and wind, stored in stationary and vehicular storage systems.
Recent data: The Brattle Group recently conducted a study comparing the costs of a VPP and a peaker plant. The results showed that a VPP is 40-60% cheaper, and when considering societal benefits, it actually yields a net negative cost. These figures are supported by an excellent analysis that highlights we are at an inflection point for VPP deployments.
Proposed legislation: Senate Bill 233 in California would mandate V2G capabilities for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Considering the matrix of OEMs offering V2G functionality, this requirement is essential. However, it should not be considered the only approach. I strongly believe that price signals, and the availability ofV2G programs, are even more critical in driving progress. Once the price signal and economic incentives are in place, the industry stakeholders (charger and vehicle manufactures) will follow based on pressure from their customers.
Synop advancements: In recent weeks, Synop has executed 2MWh of V2G activity. This includes coordinating V2G across a bank of chargers while also optimizing vehicle state of charge to ensure it meets V2G event requirements while maintaining sufficient charge for the morning's routes. Notably, when setting the charging schedule for the V2G events, the Synop platform had to take into account numerous constraints including:
VPPs have long been considered the holy grail of low emission, distributed, more cost effective capacity. It now appears we are approaching that long-awaited inflection point. It’s VPPs time to shine, and I’m proud of the work our Synop team is doing to push the envelope.
Interested in Synop software? Click here to book a demo!
Read this case study to learn how Synop helped a commercial EV bus company overcome the challenge of managing charging operations in sub-zero temperatures, leading to improved performance and reduced costs.
Read this success story to learn how Synop helped a commercial EV bus company overcome the challenge of managing charging operations in sub-zero temperatures, leading to improved performance and reduced costs.
Challenge: Managing EV charging operations in sub-zero temperatures
It is no secret that the performance of electric vehicles can be impacted by cold temperatures, making it challenging for vehicles to perform optimally in locations with extreme weather conditions. Furthermore, certain chargers lose "the handshake" with the vehicle when the state of charge reaches 100%, which means a charger needs to be disconnected/reconnected to regain the handshake with the vehicle. This was the challenge faced by Minnesota Coaches, a commercial bus company which operates fleets for school districts in Minnesota, where temperatures can reach sub-zero levels. The company needed a way to ensure that the batteries in their electric school buses were warmed in the morning before departure to ensure optimal performance on their route. In parallel, the company desired to maintain the handshake with the vehicle throughout its dwell time at the depot to ensure the vehicle had the optimal state of charge upon departure.
Solution: Synop's advanced managed charging system
Synop's advanced managed charging system proved to be a perfect fit for Minnesota Coaches' challenge of warming EV batteries ahead of departure, while also maintaining an optimal state of charge. The software platform's smart scheduling algorithms ensured that the buses were charged to around 90% of their state of charge throughout the night via a trickle amperage, which prevented the charger from losing connectivity. In the morning, the Synop platform scheduled a charging session to warm up the batteries and get them to an ideal operating temperature, ensuring optimal performance upon departure.
To further optimize the charging process, the Synop platform scheduled multiple charging sessions throughout the evening with different parameters. These sessions were designed to meet the required state of charge, while minimizing the cost of charging and maintaining optimal battery and cabin temperatures. By doing so, Synop's platform was able to ensure that the EV buses were always ready to go and perform at their best, regardless of the weather condition.
Results: Improved performance and reduced costs
The Synop platform's flexibility and configurability helped Minnesota Coaches overcome the operational challenges of managing EV charging operations in sub-zero temperatures. The advanced managed charging system ensured optimal battery performance, reduced operational costs, and improved overall performance. Synop provides a comprehensive solution for commercial EV fleets to manage their charging operations, even in challenging weather conditions. By optimizing various operational parameters, Synop's platform ensures that commercial EV fleets maximize uptime and minimize costs, ultimately helping to scale EV adoption.
Interested in Synop software? Click here to book a demo.
Synop's software platform is vendor-agnostic and designed for easy deployment, making it an ideal solution for drayage fleets that need to rapidly transition to EVs.
One of the key takeaways from this year's Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo is the urgent need for decarbonization in the trucking industry, particularly in California. As the state continues to grapple with air pollution and climate change, it has been developing the draft Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation as part of a broader strategy to deploy medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) everywhere feasible. Drayage fleets, which are responsible for transporting cargo containers within ports and railyards, are a crucial part of this effort and will be subject to significant regulatory changes starting in 2024.
According to the ACF draft regulation, all drayage trucks entering seaports and intermodal railyards in California would be required to be zero-emission by 2035. This means that beginning January 1, 2024, trucks must be registered in the CARB Online System to conduct drayage activities in the state. Non-zero-emission “legacy” drayage trucks may register in the CARB Online System through December 31, 2023, and can continue to operate through their minimum useful life. However, from January 1, 2024, only zero-emission drayage trucks may register in the CARB Online System
Synop, a charging and energy management software platform for commercial electric vehicle (EVs), has been working in drayage to help fleets manage the transition to zero-emission vehicles. Here are the top four ways Synop is helping facilitate drayage fleet and charging operators in this transition:
The transition to EV fleets is a significant step towards reducing emissions in the drayage sector, which has been a major contributor to air pollution in California. Drayage trucks, which typically operate within a 50-mile radius, are responsible for transporting a significant portion of the goods that enter and exit California's ports. However, these trucks are often older and less efficient, leading to high levels of emissions and poor air quality in the surrounding communities.
Synop's software platform is vendor-agnostic and designed for easy deployment, making it an ideal solution for drayage fleets that need to rapidly transition to zero-emission vehicles. As California continues to implement new regulations aimed at reducing emissions in the trucking industry, the need for solutions like Synop's will only increase. With the right tools and support, fleets can successfully navigate the transition to zero-emission vehicles, helping to reduce emissions and improve air quality in communities across California and beyond.
Is your drayage fleet transitioning to EVs? Click here to book a demo!
Approximately two million commercial electric vehicles (EVs) will be on the road by 2030. A new partnership between EnergyHub, the utility industry’s most experienced provider of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), and Synop, a charging and energy management software company for commercial EV fleets, prepares utilities and fleet owners for an EV-centric future.
The partnership provides utilities with improved grid intelligence while enabling commercial EV fleets to generate revenue from charging assets.
New York (May 2, 2023) – Approximately two million commercial electric vehicles (EVs) will be on the road by 2030. A new partnership between EnergyHub, the utility industry’s most experienced provider of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), and Synop, a charging and energy management software company for commercial EV fleets, prepares utilities and fleet owners for an EV-centric future.
The EnergyHub EV/Synop integration combines the grid management expertise of EnergyHub with Synop’s dynamic power and energy management capabilities for fleet operators. The pairing provides utilities with increased asset visibility and control, while commercial fleet operators benefit from streamlined utility program enrollment processes and can generate additional revenue from charging assets.
The integration is giving utilities even greater access to Highland Electric Fleets, a leading North American provider of turnkey fleet electrification-as-a-service, and BorgWarner, one of the largest automotive suppliers to support EV fleets and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
”Combining Synop’s technology with the EnergyHub EV platform allows us to provide utilities with a solution that enables the acceleration of fleet electrification.The combined platforms optimize the build-out of the grid while keeping the EV fleet operator at the core of everything we do.” said Jeff Huron, Senior Manager, EV Business Development at EnergyHub. “The integration with Synop supports scalable, sustainable fleet data collection as well as V1G and V2X use cases, unlocking new value streams for utilities and fleet owners.”
The partnership extends Synop’s fleet charging management capabilities to enable fleet operators to generate additional revenue from grid services (V1G/V2G) and enables utilities visibility and control of charging assets.
"Utilities hold the keys to achieving transportation electrification targets as they build the infrastructure needed to ensure charging demands can be met," said Mark Braby, Synop’s COO. “We will not get there unless utilities are working with fleet customers on energy management solutions - and that’s why the partnership between EnergyHub and Synop is so critical.”
EnergyHub and Synop plan to leverage their partnership to facilitate managed charging and V2G programs for utilities and ISOs across North America, delivering real-time pricing and asset control while meeting the highest security standards.
About EnergyHub
EnergyHub is the leading grid-edge DERMS provider. Utilities rely on EnergyHub’s DERMS platform to manage all distributed energy resources to serve grid and market objectives. EnergyHub works with over 60 utilities in North America to manage more than 1.35 GW of flexible capacity. We empower utilities and their customers to create a clean, distributed energy future. For more information, visit www.energyhub.com
About Synop
Synop provides an end-to-end EV software platform that is purpose-built to scale EV adoption by managing charging operations for commercial EV fleets with functionality that spans vehicle management, charging management, V2G energy management, and payment management. Through vendor-agnostic vehicle telematics and EV charging station integrations, Synop delivers AI-driven forecasting tools that optimize charging schedules to ensure commercial EV fleets maximize uptime and minimize cost. To learn more visit https://synop.ai.
At Synop, we are committed to accelerating the transition to electric commercial fleets by providing end-to-end software solutions that optimize charging and energy management, but we know that this transition will require industry-wide collaboration and support.
At Synop, we are committed to accelerating the transition to electric commercial fleets by providing end-to-end software solutions that optimize charging and energy management, but we know that this transition will require industry-wide collaboration and support. That's why we are proud to partner with and sponsor several organizations dedicated to advancing the future of electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Synop aligns with organizations that support open standards, interoperability, and secure integrations between the grid and charging assets.
At Synop, we understand that supporting the future of fleet electrification requires collaboration across the industry. That's why we are proud to sponsor and support organizations like ATE, NACFE, CALSTART, OCA, OpenADR, and VGIC, each of which is dedicated to advancing the adoption of clean transportation technologies and developing open standards for EV infrastructure and energy management. We hope you will join us in supporting these organizations and accelerating the transition to a clean transportation future.
Read this case study to learn how Synop, in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, BorgWarner, Proterra, and Thomas Built Buses, provided software solutions in a groundbreaking program using V2G technology for electric school buses (ESBs).
Read this case study to learn how Synop, in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, BorgWarner, Proterra, and Thomas Built Buses, provided software solutions in a groundbreaking program using V2G technology for electric school buses (ESBs).
Challenge:
The North American electric grid is facing mounting challenges in its ability to provide reliable electricity, particularly in the face of extreme weather and surging peak loads. To address these challenges, backup power storage is essential, as demonstrated by recent events like Hurricane Ida, the Texas cold snaps, and the 2022 heatwave. It's critical for the electric grid to remain dependable and robust to keep vital services, such as nursing homes, healthcare facilities, and schools, running smoothly. As electrification continues to expand and more products and services are added to the grid, new and innovative solutions are needed to manage disruptions and minimize the impact of power outages or demand spikes on communities.
Solution:
Synop’s commercial charging and energy management software has the capability to transform EBSs into a practical solution that helps stabilize the electric grid. The software integrates with crucial components like vehicles, chargers, and utilities, enabling V2G transactions by receiving prompts from the utility for a specific time period. The platform then verifies the fleet charging schedule to confirm excess capacity. Upon validation, the platform delivers the appropriate charging schedule to the chargers using the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), and the excess energy is discharged from the battery back to the grid.
In addition to stabilizing grids with renewable energy and reducing emissions, V2G technology also reduces energy costs for EV fleet owners. Although bi-directional charging infrastructure is typically more expensive than traditional chargers, larger vehicles with bigger battery packs like school buses parked for most of the day have the shortest ROI. Additionally, more electric utilities are offering programs that compensate electric fleets and battery storage resources for discharging energy, generating revenue without affecting their regular operations.
Results:
During the summers of 2021 and 2022, Synop participated in a commercial V2G program for National Grid (electric utility). Led by Highland Electric Fleets (deployment manager) with BorgWarner (DC fast charging system), Proterra (battery and drivetrain technologies), and Thomas Built Buses (OEM vehicle), the 2021 program marked the first time battery storage from ESBs was used in a commercial V2G program in the United States. The results showed that one bus discharged 10.78 MWh hours to the Massachusetts grid over 158 hours across both summers, generating $23,500 in revenue.
This study showcases the potential of V2G technology in stabilizing the electric grid and reducing the cost of fleet electrification for school districts and municipal entities. The success of the program in using battery storage from ESBs in a commercial V2G program is a promising step toward a more sustainable future.
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Note: This Synop success story is a revised version of a case study published by BorgWarner in March 2023. That final paper can be found here for more details.
Synop, the operations platform built to optimize charging and energy management for commercial electric fleets, today announced a partnership with BorgWarner (NYSE: BWA), to accelerate the next generation of revenue-generating opportunities for EV fleets using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities.
NEW YORK, New York (March 29, 2023) – Synop, the operations platform built to optimize charging and energy management for commercial electric fleets, today announced a partnership with BorgWarner (NYSE: BWA), to accelerate the next generation of revenue-generating opportunities for EV fleets using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities.
The partnership accelerates bidirectional V2G technology and provides monetization opportunities for fleet operators, lowering the overall cost of fleet ownership. Together, the two companies will supply fully-integrated hardware and software solutions, establish V2G testing and compatibility best practices, and take V2G technology beyond existing protocols to help optimize fleet operations while supporting utilities and the grid.
"BorgWarner’s impressive global reach and status as one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world combined with Synop’s technology will help accelerate V2G technology from where it is today,” said Gagan Dhillon, CEO of Synop. "Together, we will be able to ensure interoperability to ultimately deliver next-level V2G technology to fleet operators worldwide.”
Beyond V2G, the partnership with BorgWarner, a global product leader in delivering innovative and sustainable mobility solutions for the vehicle market, will help resolve traditional challenges for EV fleets, such as system uptime, resilience to price volatility, charging mixed fleets, and will manage the total cost of fleet ownership.
From utility programs the companies have jointly participated in, commercial fleets were able to make back a maximum of $12,000 per commercial vehicle over the summer by selling energy back to the grid. By aggregating power from all partners, curtailing demand, and stabilizing excess power flow to the grid, utilities were able to better prepare for severe weather events such as heat waves and cold snaps that cause significant strain on the grid.
“Our collaboration with Synop underscores our shared commitment to lead the transition to eMobility,” said Isabelle McKenzie, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Morse Systems. “The partnership will promote V2G capabilities for EV fleets, helping to reduce their carbon footprint and add grid stability while providing the ability to generate revenue by selling energy back to the grid during peak demand hours.”
By combining expertise in energy management solutions and hardware/software interoperability, Synop and BorgWarner are working towards more efficient use of energy resources and reducing emissions from transportation sources. Fleet operators interested in engaging this technology can learn more at synop.ai.
About Synop
Synop provides an end-to-end EV software platform that is purpose-built to scale EV adoption by managing charging operations for commercial EV fleets with functionality that spans vehicle management, charging management, V2G energy management, and payment management. Through vendor-agnostic vehicle telematics and EV charging station integrations, Synop delivers AI-driven forecasting tools that optimize charging schedules to ensure commercial EV fleets maximize uptime and minimize cost. To learn more visit https://synop.ai.
About BorgWarner:
For more than 130 years, BorgWarner has been a transformative global product leader bringing successful mobility innovation to market. Today, we’re accelerating the world’s transition to eMobility — to help build a cleaner, healthier, safer future for all.
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Synop CEO Gagan Dhillon was featured on The Weather Channel's "Pattrn" to discuss Synop's vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities and how our software can help bring relief to the grid during major weather events.
Synop CEO Gagan Dhillon was featured on The Weather Channel's "Pattrn" to discuss Synop's vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities and how our software can help bring relief to the grid during major weather events. We appreciate broadcast journalists Stephanie Abrams and Jordan Steele for taking the time to chat about the exciting potential of EV fleets.