NEVERFLAT Project Officially Kicks Off in Barcelona

The NEVERFLAT project held its two-day kick-off meeting in Barcelona, Spain, hosted by IREC – Catalonia Institute for Energy Research. The event gathered all 13 consortium partners to launch joint work on developing compact, interoperable EV charging systems for urban and semi-public spaces. The sessions focused on aligning technical work, deployment planning, and upcoming pilot site activities.

Compact Charging Infrastructure and Local Control

The infrastructure team presented their plans for modular, bi-directional charging units designed to integrate with the power grid and local renewable sources. These units are suited for space-limited environments and community installations. Local control systems will manage real-time energy flow between vehicles, buildings, and the grid.

Energy Forecasting and Local Management

This session introduced forecasting and load-balancing tools. These include solar generation prediction, demand modeling, and smart charging logic. The aim is to optimize energy use, reduce peak loads, and support energy resilience in urban areas.

Planning and Deployment Tools

Partners working on planning tools shared early versions of statistical and geospatial decision-support platforms. These tools will help local authorities and infrastructure providers assess deployment feasibility and plan infrastructure rollouts based on usage data and projected needs.

User Applications and Incentives

The user-facing tools team introduced the upcoming NEVERFLAT mobile application and digital wallet. The app will enable session booking, energy monitoring, and participation in an incentive system that rewards off-peak charging and energy return to the grid.

System Integration and Interoperability

The integration team outlined the system architecture linking all components of the platform. The focus is on ensuring interoperability, secure data exchange, and scalable operation across diverse urban contexts.

Communication, Engagement, and Pilot Activities

The communication team presented the outreach and stakeholder engagement plan, including brand development, website content, and social media strategy. The pilot work package leads also presented the three demonstration sites:

• Barcelona, Spain – Focused on dense urban charging scenarios and integration with local energy systems.

• Nice, France – Testing interoperability and regional deployment scalability.

• Bruges, Belgium – Community-based charging model and local system coordination.