The Mobility House and Itron Launch Pioneering Fleet Electrification Project in New York
The Mobility House, a global leader in smart charging and energy management solutions, and Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), a company developing advanced energy and water management technologies for utilities and cities, have launched a groundbreaking fleet electrification project in New York State. Supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicle fleets by deploying flexible service connection technology to address distribution system capacity challenges and prevent delays in fleet charging.
The demonstration project will integrate Itron’s IntelliFLEX Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), part of its Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio, with The Mobility House’s automated load management (ALM) platform, ChargePilot®. By combining these solutions, fleets can operate efficiently while reducing—or even avoiding—the need for expensive and time-consuming infrastructure upgrades. This represents the first implementation of such an integrated technology solution to overcome distribution-level constraints in fleet electrification.
Solving a Critical Barrier to Fleet Electrification
Upgrading electrical distribution systems is one of the most significant challenges for fleet electrification. Distribution capacity limitations often delay or restrict the installation of EV charging infrastructure, slowing the transition to zero-emission fleets.
To address this challenge, The Mobility House will leverage its ChargePilot® CMS alongside Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio, which incorporates Distributed Intelligence (DI). The integrated system enables fleet operators to optimize charging operations within site capacity limits. Automated load management from ChargePilot, combined with real-time grid data from DI-enabled meters, ensures fleets can charge vehicles without exceeding the constraints of the local distribution network, all while maintaining operational requirements.
Greg Hintler, CEO of The Mobility House North America, said, “This technology combination is absolutely critical to the timely transition to zero-emission vehicles. If we can solve the interconnection backlog, the biggest obstacle to fleet electrification will be removed.”
Flexible service connections allow utilities to approve service for EV charging infrastructure that might otherwise be restricted by distribution capacity. Utilities can manage charging to stay within predetermined limits based on forecasted or real-time grid capacity. In this project, utilities will provide physical equipment parameters and grid topology to the Itron IntelliFLEX platform, which signals ChargePilot® to dynamically adjust charging as needed. This real-time grid-aware system operates without additional hardware or gateways, enabling utilities to avoid costly upgrades while maximizing the EV fleet capacity in their service areas.
Don Reeves, senior vice president of Outcomes at Itron, stated, “This collaboration demonstrates the potential of Itron’s Grid Edge Intelligence portfolio. Utilities can now deploy intelligence at the grid edge, helping customers avoid the financial burden and delays associated with infrastructure upgrades, while supporting fleet electrification goals. It’s an example of what’s possible with distributed energy resource management.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris added, “Supporting The Mobility House’s fleet electrification technology enhances utilities’ ability to manage energy distribution efficiently while accommodating the growing number of electric school buses on our roads. By demonstrating flexible interconnections at select New York sites, we can enable faster, more efficient charging for multiple vehicles simultaneously.”
Transforming Grid Management in New York
The project will be deployed in two phases. In phase one, five chargers will be installed at a Staten Island school bus site in collaboration with nonprofit operator New York City School Bus Umbrella Services (NYCSBUS) and utility Consolidated Edison (Con Ed). Phase two will expand the deployment to a second site with ten additional chargers elsewhere in New York State.
This initiative highlights a new model for fleet electrification, combining intelligent grid management, real-time monitoring, and automated charging to overcome infrastructure constraints. By maximizing existing distribution assets, the project demonstrates a scalable pathway for utilities and fleet operators to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles while maintaining grid reliability.
