London Design Gold

2024

Wattup

Entrant

Wattup Design

Category

Service Design - Energy

Client's Name

Country / Region

United States

New York, the "City That Never Sleeps,

" faces escalating energy challenges as electricity

demand strains the power grid. ISO forecasts potential shortages by 2034, with increased risks

of outages during peak summer periods. Meanwhile, the city's fleet of electric school buses,

which remain idle during midday and nighttime, can be repurposed as mobile energy storage to

supply backup power during high-demand periods.

The Magic School Buses project leverages V2G and V2H technologies, enabling electric school

buses to charge during off-peak hours, store low-cost electricity, and sell power to the grid or

homes at discounted prices during peak periods. This model helps alleviate grid pressure,

reduces electricity costs, and offers flexible energy management solutions through the Wattup

software platform.

WattUp is software that purchases electricity stored in electric school buses. It provides an

interactive price map, allowing users to compare electricity prices in different areas and make

informed decisions. The software also displays key details such as current prices, available

balances, and saved locations for easy account management. Users can input the required

electricity amount, and WattUp automatically calculates the cost. Additionally, the platform offers

features like automatic scheduling, subscription plans, and energy reports to optimize electricity

use and reduce costs.

WattUp helps users cut costs and enhance energy efficiency, especially during peak periods. In

New York City, the project alleviates grid stress, reduces outages, and supports a greener future

by using electric school buses for decentralized energy storage, balancing supply, lowering

costs, improving air quality, and reducing emissions.

Credits

Creative Leader
Qijun Nie
Designer
Jiayu Hu
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