Europe is steadily shifting towards electric mobility. This electrification brings in a new world of best practices and terminology. One of these focal points is smart charging. Smart charging allows charging station owners to make efficient use of electricity and optimize the charge timing and charge power based on contract limits, the capacity of the electrical grid, electricity costs, and fleet requirements.
This is possible because a smart charging platform, like Edge, serves as local intelligence, connecting buildings, charging stations (of multiple vendors), and other assets into one grid. On that network, electricity can be exchanged intelligently, often referred to as dynamic load balancing. The local grid truly becomes smart with advanced charge optimization features like priority charging, delayed charging, internet outage protection, multi-limit charge profiles, and EMS integration. Ideal for companies that want to get the most out of their local grid.
In our previous blog, we explored the definition of smart charging and its functionalities. In this article, we delve into the economic and environmental advantages of smart charging, that a smart charging platform, like Edge can unlock.
#1. Charging station expansion with smart charging
When there’s no local intelligence present that allows buildings and charging stations to communicate, the grid configurator imposes strict energy limits to prevent overloads. For example, if the available capacity is 300A, and a building requires a maximum of 180A, 100A will be allocated for charging with a 20A safety buffer. Even if the building only uses 50A, the remaining 130A will not be available for charging.
Secondly, without smart capabilities, the 100A must be distributed equally across all charging stations. If there are 10 stations, each would receive 10A. Even if only 2 cars charge, 80% of the power remains unused. Expanding to 20 stations means each station gets only 5A, and with 30 stations, it’s reduced to 3.3A per station—insufficient for effective charging.
A smart charging platform monitors power usage between the building and the charging stations, as well as between the stations. With Edge this is possible even if they are different brands. In the same scenario where the building uses 50A and 40 charging stations are installed, with 20 in use, the unused power can be redistributed. This process, called load balancing, provides 230/20=11.5A per station, which is a significant increase.
This creates a win-win-win scenario, allowing the Charge Point Operator (CPO) to install more charging stations, while the site owner and end client benefit from increased charging capacity and more fully charged vehicles ready for work, all without costly grid upgrades.
#2. Leveraging renewable energy for more charge capacity and energy credits
Solar panels on the roof are a visible and tangible example of the new possibilities with electricity. A smart charging platform can optimize how a company benefits from renewable energy: either by directly replacing grid electricity with renewable energy or by combining renewable energy with grid power to enable faster charging.
Another less obvious benefit of leveraging renewable energy is the Renewable Energy Credits system (in the Netherlands also known as ‘hernieuwbare brandstof eenheden’, HBEs). If a company can demonstrate that renewable electricity is used for its operations, it earns four HBEs for every 278 kWh of green electricity delivered. These HBEs can be traded, with an average value of 13 euros each, creating an interesting opportunity to increase the return on investment for charging stations.
#3. Cost reductions with scheduled charging
The third benefit is the use of available or anticipated renewable energy. Scheduled charging, or delayed charging, sets a specific time for an electric vehicle (EV) to start charging. CPOs and site owners can plan charging sessions during periods when a surplus of low-cost renewable energy is predicted, or delay charging to off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower.
Scheduled charging can be configured with a smart charging platform. This can be done directly by setting a charge limit for the day, known as a charge profile, or by connecting to a smart charging service provider. These providers use predictive data based on grid congestion and day-ahead markets to create optimal charging profiles and schedules. These schedules are then sent to the smart charging system, which forwards them to the charging station. Continuous local monitoring and real-time load balancing remain essential, as local changes may occur that need to be addressed promptly.
#4 Smart charging with a battery
An installed battery can serve as a buffer for the unpredictable nature of renewable energy and fluctuating prices. A smart charging platform, like Edge, enables the site owner to integrate the battery into the grid, charging it when energy is inexpensive — whether from the grid or renewables — and storing it for periods when prices or demand are high. This approach helps avoid exceeding contractual limits, as the battery can reduce peak demand and prevent costly fines.
#5 Strategic priority charging
Some EV users or charging stations may have higher priority than others. Smart charging platforms can prioritize essential or high-usage fleet vehicles. By prioritizing a user or EV, the greater part of the available load will be directed towards that specific vehicle. This approach maximizes EV utilization and productivity.
Additionally, semi-public parking, such as a hotel offering priority charging to preferred customers, can enhance customer satisfaction. This strategy can lead to higher retention rates and increased revenue.
Conclusion
Last Mile Solutions’ smart charging platform Edge provides a practical solution to realize all these benefits.
When considering the economic and environmental advantages, Edge excels in…
• Energy utilization, dynamically adjusting power levels based on available power and prioritizing solar energy consumption,
• Maximizing the uptime and asset utilization, ensuring reliability, and protecting against blackouts as a local solution,
• Hardware vendor-agnostic compatibility, enabling the integration of up to 200 charge stations from any brand equipped with OCPP,
• Seamless integration with our EV charging management platform, offering station management, transaction handling, insights, and smart charging in one package
Edge smart charging video
Want to discover more about how you can become an Edge smart charging partner? Contact us at sales@lastmilesolutions.com