Carousel parking could help meet the demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in densely occupied garages at multifamily buildings. Western University has been awarded a $1.5 million research grant from the Canadian government to explore how the technology for accommodating vehicles in a vertical stack could be integrated with EV charging.

It’s one of nine projects recently tapped to develop and demonstrate innovative approaches for decarbonizing on-road transportation, and is the only one to tackle how to maximize space for EV charging. Researchers have been enlisted to “design, test and validate energy, communication and cyber-security systems” for EV charging within a carousel parking system.

The on-road transportation decarbonization program is funded by Natural Resources Canada to help further technologies that can increase general uptake of EVs and improve overall system efficiency, or specifically advance low-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MDHVs) and remove market barriers. Other grant recipients will be largely focused on the MDHV segment.

“Through these projects, Canadian innovators are creating and commercializing the emerging technologies we need for clean, sustainable transportation for our future,” says Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.