Virtual Peaker, a cloud-based SaaS company empowering modern utilities with the friendliest distributed energy platform on the planet, and Emporia, an energy management technology company with a goal of making energy efficiency accessible to all homeowners by creating energy-saving technology at the lowest cost and highest quality possible, have integrated their technologies to connect via the internet any Emporia electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to Virtual Peaker’s DERMS Suite, Shift.
Emporia is Virtual Peaker’s first EVSE partner to integrate via the Gravity Connect API open specification, giving utility program managers enhanced access to more refined controls when compared to OpenADR. The new partnership makes it easy for owners of Emporia’s hardware to enroll and participate in any of the programs supported by Virtual Peaker’s platform. Utilities leveraging this partnership can expect seamless customer onboarding, advanced control capabilities (including Time-of-Use), and integrated, real-time EVSE device telemetry. Emporia’s Level 2 EVSE standard charging ports work with nearly any EV (Teslas require an adapter), and consumers who purchase qualified residential fueling equipment between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2032, may receive a tax credit of up to $1,000.
The global market for EV charging stations is expected to continue to experience rapid growth, increasing sixfold in seven years from $17.59 billion in 2021 to $111.90 billion by 2028 according to Fortune Business Insights. The Virtual Peaker / Emporia partnership allows utilities more options for EVSE devices, making their distributed energy resource (DER) programs more effective with a larger customer reach. EV program participation also helps EV owners reduce their cost of ownership by providing additional rebates and incentives.
“Together, Virtual Peaker and Emporia are well positioned to help utilities easily and rapidly expand the fast-growing EV home charging market,” said Virtual Peaker Founder & CEO Dr. William (Bill) Burke. “We’re using technology to quickly connect devices and people to maximize the value of distributed energy resources, optimize and balance the electric grid, and combat climate change.”
With new EV companies and legacy automakers introducing EVs as well as offering more plug-in hybrids than ever before, at-home charging is becoming much more than a luxury and evolving into a necessity," said Emporia CEO Shawn McLaughlin. "Consumers need reassurance through insights that can be easily gleaned on their phones how their charging integrates into their overall usage and ways to continually save in a marketplace where energy is getting more expensive and this partnership delivers just that." Utilities looking to add EVs to their demand response programs can contact Virtual Peaker to learn more about this integration.
Virtual Peaker is a cloud-based distributed energy company that empowers modern utilities to build the grid of the future and meet global decarbonization goals. The SaaS company’s platform suites unify all aspects of DER management, from DERMS to customer engagement and load forecasting. Virtual Peaker is a remote-first company that currently employs more than 45 people in various locations across the United States. Thanks to a recent $16.6 million venture funding round led by global technology and sustainability investors, Virtual Peaker is expanding its support for forward-thinking utilities that can lead the transformation to a more sustainable electric grid. For more information, visit www.virtual-peaker.com and follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter (@VirtualPeaker).
About Emporia
Emporia is an energy management technology company with a goal of making energy efficiency accessible to all homeowners by creating energy-saving technology at the lowest cost and highest quality possible. Emporia’s line of products includes smart home energy monitors, smart plugs, EV chargers, current sensors, and software driven automated energy management tools that provide customer savings and energy efficiency. By reducing customers’ energy use and saving them money, Emporia is helping people create a healthier planet and build a brighter future for us all. For more information about how to take advantage of Emporia’s energy solutions, contact [email protected]. To learn more about Emporia’s product offerings, visit emporiaenergy.com.