Configured 'Navigation-based Program for Information on Electric Vehicle Charging'
Area with high future growth potential, received suggestion to apply for patent
[Nov 11, 2013]

 <Department of Electrical Engineering Team was awarded at the '2013 Power Industry Software Contest' (from left to right - Kim, Yong-Hwan, Jung, Yeon-Ju, Kwak, Byeong-Gil, Kim, Chang-Hwan)>

 YU students won first place at the '2013 Power Industry Software Contest'.

 The team was made up Kim, Chang-Hwan (29) who is in his second term for his master's degree program at the Graduate School of Electrical Engineering, and undergraduate school juniors Kwak, Byeong-Gil (24), Kim, Yong-Hwan (23) and Jung, Yeon-Ju (22).

 At the contest held on the 1st at Gyeongsang National University, they won the silver medal and a cash prize of 500,000 won with the 'YU EV CIS (Yeungnam University Electric Info System), Implementation of Program for Charging Information Through Building Smart Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure'. Because nobody won the gold this year at this contest, they were first place.

 'YU EV CIS', a navigation-based program, provides not only location information of charging stations, but a wide array of information such as current load and chargeable load of each charging station by linking with the power system, while also managing charging station reservation through a central control center to enhance user convenience as well as making it possible to use electric energy efficiently.

 Kim, Chang-Hwan, who led the team, said, "It is expected that the domestic automobile industry will begin selling electric vehicles and electric vehicles will be commercialized in the near future. Thus, upon thinking about what suppliers and consumers will need the most when electric vehicle charging stations increase, we gave birth to the 'YU EV CIS'." He added, "it is also related to the 'Smart Grid' that is receiving attention as a national fostering project, and that is why we had good results."

 'Smart Grid' refers to next-generation smart power networks that optimize energy efficiency by integrating IT with the existing power network in order to exchange information in real time between the power supplier and consumer.

 The contest judges assessed their idea saying, "This is an idea that provide convenience to both the supplier and consumer in an area with high future growth potential," and suggested that after making some additions to the program, that they should apply for a patent.

 Kim, Yong-Hwan, who prepared for the event with his senior in graduate school, said, "While preparing for this, we felt that we were lacking in many things, but I am happy that we won such a great award." He also added, "Though it is still in its idea stage, it has high growth potential and I want to continuously supplement and develop the 'YU EV CIS' so that it can be commercialized."