Hokkaido Electric Power and a Japanese blockchain company, INDETAIL[1], announced on June 6, 2019, that they have jointly conducted research on the construction of electric vehicle (EV) platforms.
With the widespread use of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EVs), the research project aims to facilitate the development of a platform for the management of EV charging stations by utilizing blockchain technology and Internet of Things (IoT). These advanced technologies will provide EV charging station owners and users with value-added services to improve their convenience. Through the internet, the owners will be able to perform automatic payment procedures, check the charging status of each EV charging station, and set up flexible pricing; while users can check the location/availability of the EV stations and make reservations for EV charging stations through their smartphones.
In 2019, the project will design and simulate the system for the platform. The demonstration project will be carried out after 2020. Hokkaido Electric Power will analyze the current status of EV stations in Hokkaido and will identify the requirements for building an EV platform. Meanwhile, INDETAIL will provide consulting on the use of blockchain technology. Hokkaido Electric Power and INDETAIL plan to jointly file a patent application in June 2019.[2]