Tap transforms EV charging
The “Power Intel” feature is the first EV charging app to give EV drivers real time insight into the availability of grid capacity.
Published on March 19, 2025
Team IO+ selects and features the most important news stories on innovation and technology, carefully curated by our editors.
Tap Electric introduces Power Intel, which allows EV drivers in North Brabant and Limburg to see the grid capacity in real time. During this trial, which ran from November 2024 to March 2025, the charging speed at 800 charging stations was reduced during peak hours. This prevented network congestion. EV users could easily adjust their charging speeds via the Tap Electric app. In addition to the practical benefits for the driver, this innovation demonstrates the potential benefits of cooperation between grid operators such as Enexis and market parties such as Vattenfall. With at least 50% of the charging demand shifted to evening and night hours, the future of grid-aware charging seems optimistic. There is talk of a further rollout to all public charging stations, with possible rewards for driver cooperation. The key role of Tap Electric in this development promises an exciting way forward for the power grid and the EV user.
Breakthrough in real-time grid management
Tap Electric's Power Intel offers an unprecedented breakthrough in how EV drivers charge their vehicles by providing real-time insight into grid capacity. This system was tested in a large-scale pilot in the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg, involving almost 800 public charging stations. The project began in November 2024 and ran until March 2025. This approach reduces network congestion by limiting charging capacity during peak hours between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. This means EV users could adjust their charging sessions in a controlled and informed manner.
Autonomous city buses, an energy pod and up-to-date maps in a digital infrastructure
The Digital Infrastructure for Future-proof Mobility (DITM) project has 19 partners from the mobility sector.
Impact on the energy transition
This pilot is a step toward the large-scale integration of electric vehicles into the national electricity grid. A significant contribution can be made to the energy transition by smartly using available grid capacity. The proactive approach of Tap Electric and partners such as Vattenfall shows that the transition to sustainable mobility is possible and practically feasible with the right technology and partnerships. This is essential for the progress of the sustainable mobility transition that keeps the filling of the electricity grid in check, even though grid costs continue to rise.
An essential aspect of Power Intel is the improved user experience it offers. Drivers now have the option to plan better and coordinate their charging sessions with cheap charging times. In addition to shifting charging times, the Tap Electric app also offers fast charging options. This gives EV drivers control and predictability previously unseen in the industry. By informing users about grid limitations and offering them choices, they can actively manage their energy consumption during charging operations.
After the success of this first pilot, the focus is now on expanding grid-aware charging to other provinces and possibly throughout the Netherlands. Plans to further refine operational methods and improve the user experience are in full swing. In addition, there may be a rewards program in which EV drivers are encouraged and rewarded for participating in grid-aware charging systems.