University College Dublin (UCD) has announced its 2024 NovaUCD awards for innovation in technology, and one of the deserved winners was Go Eve, an electric vehicle charging start-up co-developed by UCD and Imperial College London in the UK. Go Eve was the recipient of the Licence of the Year Award for its DockChain system, a new charging solution that increases the number of EVs that can be plugged into a single charge point.
The concept of DockChain sees a single power supply installed with charge points connected in what Go Eve describes as a 'daisy chain', which is said to offer a more cost-effective installation - especially when it comes to DC charging, with costs similar to those when fitting multiple AC points - and allows users to add as many or as few charge points as needed. In theory a multi-storey car park could be equipped with a charge point for every parking space, and all at a cost-effective rate.
AC and DC solutions under way
There are AC and DC versions being developed. The domestic AC version is a lightweight system that allows several charge points to run from a single household supply, while the high-power DC version is geared towards locations such as fleet depots, hotels, office car parks or train stations.
Go Eve's software manages what's described as a 'virtual queue', so each connected EV is scheduled in turn. This should help prioritise charging, reducing downtime while a car is connected.
The DockChain system was initially created by a team of UCD academics and researchers led by Professor Robert Shorten at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Professor Shorten subsequently moved to the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London, and both universities further developed the technology. Go Eve has been founded to commercialise the technology, and there has been investment of €3.5 million to make it commercially viable.
Staff in UK and Ireland
Go Eve now has a staff of 12 people based in London and Dublin, with a new office in Ohio in the United States. Pilot charge points have already been installed in London and Dublin. Hugh Sheehy, CEO and co-founder of Go Eve, said: “DockChain has the potential to revolutionise EV charging in many locations, from fleet depots to outside the normal home. It can help accelerate the EV transition and help protect our climate.
"The technology originated in research here at UCD and represents a great example of how academic research can become an important commercial and environmental innovation. The ongoing involvement and support of both UCD, through NovaUCD, and Imperial College London is critical in the successful expansion Go Eve around the world.”
Professor Orla Feely, President of University College Dublin, presented the Licence of the Year Award to Go Eve, and said: “The NovaUCD Innovation Awards have become a key annual event highlighting the University’s commitment to innovation and recognises the achievements of our research, innovation and entrepreneurial communities and I congratulate all who have received this year’s Awards. I would also like to wish the Awardees future success as they continue to work towards delivering economic and societal impact in Ireland, and further afield, through their commercialisation, consultancy, entrepreneurial and innovation activities.”
Go Eve is planning its first installations in the USA in the coming months, with manufacturing starting in the States during 2024. Multiple sites have also been identified in the UK, while an expansion in Europe is also expected during this year. Additional funding will also be sought to continue the company's expansion.