5 Key Advantages and Requirements of EV Smart Charging

ev smart charging

EV smart charging is a method to optimize energy consumption when charging electric cars. It ensures that the car is charged preferably when electricity demand is low, for example during night hours or when sufficient renewable energy is available. This not only saves money for EV drivers, it also eases the burden on the grid by naturally reducing demand. 

This guide covers all aspects of smart charging solutions for EVs. We explain how smart grid electric vehicle charging works, what it’s key advantages are as well as it’s requirements.

Overview

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Smart EV Charging Explained

Smart EV charging establishes a cloud based real time data connection between an EV and a charging point. The data flow allows the charging operator to monitor, manage, and restrict the use of their devices remotely to optimize energy consumption.

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Advantages

Smart charging of EVs helps to control power demand by encouraging EV charging at night or when enough renewable energy is available. Customers can recharge their car at maximum charging speed for a lower price if they shift their charging time to periods of lower demand.

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Get In Touch With Us

Get in touch with us to enquire about our EV charging solutions. You can also schedule an appointment for a free and noncommital discovery call.

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Requirements

An EV smart charge solution requires a permanent connection between the cloud and the charging device. Furthermore, the devices have to be compatible with an application protocol for cloud communication, such as OCCP.

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What is a Smart EV Charging Solution?

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Smart EV Chargers Explained

  • Smart EV charging transfers real time data about connected devices through a cloud based system.
  • Real Time data is used to manage charging rates accordingly to optimise energy consumption and output.
  • EV Owners can be charged individual tariffs based on various factors extracted from the data.

An EV smart charge solution is one in which an EV and a public charging station share a data connection, which in turn s connected to an operator. Through a cloud management system, the charging station owner can remotely monitor, regulate, and restrict the usage of their devices to optimize energy use.

Cloud based solutions offer a near endless range of possibilities for operators and customers to optimize their EV charging experience and adjust it for a number of factors. Owners of smart EV charging stations can easily add and remove elements to construct a system that meets their and their customer’s demands.

Due to this flexibility, smart EV charging is also considered to be future-proof. As the world changes, shifting demands can be recognized in the data. In response to changing demand patterns, new “smart features” can be integrated into the smart EV charging system to maintain optimal performance at all times.

Discover Your Smart Electric Mobility Solution Today

Our chargers are equipped with next-generation features to guarantee maximum efficiency for operators and convenience for customers.

Our EV charging management platforms integrate state-of-the-art cloud solutions. It is also suitable for retrofit upgrades on existing EV charging stations.

You will find the best system for your requirements with us together. Book a discovery call with one of our EV charging experts to start developing your project today.

How Does a Smart EV Charging Station Work?

The backbone of a smart EV charging solution is an intelligent cloud management system. It provides the charging operator with real-time data from linked charging devices, charging events and plugged in EVs.

All EV chargers are connected to the cloud and may be managed depending on a variety of signals. Amonng these signals are energy output, local power consumption, the number of EVs being charged, or the number of electrical items being used in the vicinity. These “smart features” can be used to dynamically adjust parameters like charging power or price for individual customers.

Smart Vehicle to Grid Technologies

To make use of smart charging, an EV driver has to identify himself first at the charging station. This can be done in several ways, for example using RFID cards or app-based verification. After verification is done, the system gets access to relevant customer data to determine optimal price and charging rate for the customer.

Charging is done according to the settings and rates provided by the operator. A smart EV charging station can be part of a station group and have a several smart functions running in the background. For the end user, charging remains simple as just have to identify themselves and plug in their EV.

Cutting-Edge & Reliable: DC Fast Series

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en plus dc fast charger 60kW

EN Plus DC fast chargers are more than just electric car chargers. They are equipped with several next generation features to provide maximum convenience to customers and operators.

Payments are processed easy and fast directly at the terminal via RFID card. Smart solutions can be realized through the EN cloud platform.

Compatibility with tomorrow’s requirements is guaranteed. Thanks to the exclusive cost advantage of our supply network, this low-risk/high-reward investment pays for itself quickly.

  • Fast & ultra-fast DC charging
  • Simultaneous smart charging of up to 3 cars
  • Three phase charging
  • Intelligent control
  • Load balancing
  • CC2S/Type 2/CHAdeMO

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5 Key Advantages of Smart Charging

Not only do customers have a lot to gain in terms of financial benefits and convenience. The environment as well as the grid will benefit from smart charging solutions in particular. smart charging is extremely advantageous, if not critical, for the energy economy. Furthermore, it brings a number of benefits to customers as well as EV charging operators.

Benefits of Smart EV Charging

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High Charging Speeds

A smart charging station is safer than a domestic plug or non-smart chargers. Before charging, smart devices automatically test the connection between the EV and the charging source. All charging events are tracked and may be managed remotely.

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Automated Billing

After charging, all EV drivers that utilize smart charging are charged based on the station price. By automatically optimizing the timing of each charging event to favor charging when electricity is at its cheapest, dynamic prices can be set to regulate energy demand accordingly.

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Eco-friendly

Optimizing EV charging to adjust to low energy usage hours not only saves money but also improves grid stability. Smart charging will be increasingly employed in the future to charge EVs when renewable energy is available on the grid.

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Safe EV Charging

Smart chargers will use the maximum charging rate supported by the EV automatically. Most smart chargers have a maximum charging capability of 22 kW. However, fast charging stations can charge with up to 150kW of electricity.

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Saves Money

EV drivers can make the most of smart charging by selecting an energy tariff exclusively for EV drivers, as lower tariff costs are applied during off-peak periods (see time of use tariff). Compared to traditional charging with typical EV rates, smart charging will save the average EV driver money.

Workplace EV Smart Charge Solutions

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Whether you’re in a small office building, a large corporation or a retail store, smart charging features also offers numerous benefits for workplace EV charging solutions.

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What Do You Need for an EV Smart Charge Solution?

EV smart chargers are compatible with all EVs, however not all charging devices are smart. Customers should determine several factors before they buy EV smart charge solutions. The right features should be carefully chosen in order to be completely applicable with all of the future-proof feature possibilities that smart charging provides.

4 Key Requirements of Smart Charging Solutions

  • All charging stations should have cloud access. To communicate with the service, the devices should provides features like GPRS and 3G.
  • A standardized charging plug format: Type 2 for slow chargers / CHAdeMO and CCS Combo for rapid and ultra rapid charging.
  • All devices should be compatible with a suitable application protocol. The most widely used is Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP).
  • EV charging smart meter with support for EV energy tariffs.

An EV smart charging cable can be used in addition, but is optional in most cases. When it comes to application protocols, having the most recent version is preferable, but the most important thing is that charging device and cloud platform use the same standard version. OCPP 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0 are currently the most prevalent smart charging protocols in operation.

Best EV Smart Charger: FC120 “Rocket”
120kW Rocket FC120 Series DC Fast Charging Station
Key Features
  • Best EV smart charger
  • Power: 120kW
  • Plug format: 2xCCS2
  • Interface: App/RFID/Plug & Play
Smart Features
  • OCCP 1.6-2
  • Access to EN Cloud platform
  • WiFi/Ethernet support
  • Smart meter