In the future, everyone could get a personalized charging price through AI, according to research by a Swedish university. But do you want that for your electric car.
The charging price for your electric car changes regularly. This has everything to do with electricity prices. At a charging station, however, you pay as much as any other user.
Yet that may well change, according to research by Sweden’s Chalmers University. AI can determine the charging price for you, making you pay a completely different amount at the same time and place than someone next to you who is charging their electric car.
Charging your electric car with a price created by AI
It can sometimes be quite difficult to find the right place to charge your electric car. There is stiff competition between providers and sometimes the best charging stations for you are often occupied. Perhaps AI is going to help you with that. Well, maybe the provider will.
University researchers have developed a mathematical model to explore how fast-charging stations can offer electric car owners a personalized price through AI. That AI determines the price through an algorithm that adjusts the price based on individual factors such as the car’s battery level and geographic location.
Time to recharge (Image: Unsplash)
Electric car owners have the choice to share this information with the charging station provider, giving them a personalized price proposal. They can also simply reject this one.
According to the scientists, the research shows how drivers making a rational choice that is beneficial to themselves helps solve problems. This minimizes both price and waiting time.
Disadvantages of an AI price
However, the data do show that the AI significantly increases the price when the electric car’s battery is low and thus drivers have no choice to continue driving any longer.
However, the study does show that almost in all cases the AI price is lower than the fixed charging price. However, the amount may differ between users.
Still, not everything is hunky-dory. For example, the scientists point out the ethical risks that exist. They do not want the AI information from the `user` drivers of electric cars to be exploited. The AI, in turn, could show charging station providers what prices users do or do not accept and what conditions are involved.
The final conclusion, then, is that smart charging stations can solve the complexities of pricing, but privacy protection is important. So there is still something to tinker with. You can find the entire study here.
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